The Ranchi District Administration has once again decided to launch drives to free dams and rivers from encroachments and land sharks. Under this initiative, anti-encroachment drives will be conducted at Kanke dam, Getalsud dam, Rukka dam, Harmu river, Swarnrekha river and other water bodies
The Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rai Mahimapat Ray on Sunday inspected Latratu dam under Lapung block of district. The DC on his trip to Latratu dam visited the catchment area of the dam and asked the block development officer (BDO) to prepare the renovation and beautification plan of the dam. He also directed the BDO that the dam is free from illegal encroachment, asking concerned officials to take strict action against illegal land grabbers near the dam.
The DC diktat to officials assumes importance as recently Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed his reservation over illegal encroachment of catchment land of water bodies. After CM’s diktat the ineffective reservoir demarcation committee becomes active.
The Ranchi DC on Saturday visited Kanke and Getalsud (also Rukka) dam and inspected the catchment area of these two water bodies. The DC directed Ormanjhi and Angara COs to prepare and submit an inspection report on illegal structures coming up in the catchment area of Getalsud dam within fifteen days.
The Chief Minister on Friday had a videoconferencing with all DCs and DDCs of State issuing them directives to make water bodies from illegal encroachers. The CM asked the officials to take strict action against illegal encroachers first issuing them notice and then taking forceful action against illegal land grabbers.
Kanke (also Gonda) dam was built in 1955, Hatia (also Dhurwa) dam in 1962-63 and Getalsud (also Rukka) dam in 1971 supplies water to more than half the population of Capital.
However, over the decades these dams have witnessed the mushrooming of unauthorised construction eating into its catchment area and have turned into a dumping ground for garbage.
The CM was upset with encroachment on the banks of river Harmu and Swarnrekha. Due to encroachment of these two rivers the very existence of the river is at stake.
For making these two rivers encroachment free drive has been going on since the last one decade. Sources said that for conservation of rover Harmu, respective State Governments have spent more than Rs 85 crore but little has been done to save the river from encroachers. Sources said that in the 17 km length of Harmu river encroachers have grabbed the river up to 11 km. From Vidya Nagar to Chutia illegal construction has come up on both sides of the river.
Same is the case of Swarnrekha river too. The river once used to have high current but now during summers there is hardly any water in the river. Illegal land brokers have grabbed river’s catchment land at Hatia, Chutia and Namkum. Making things worse is dumping of garbage by factories situated at Hatia, Chutia and Namkum.