State Water Resources, Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Chandra Prakash Choudhary on Friday ordered the department for removing the newly planted trees from near the embankment of Sitarampur Dam in association with forest department.
The Minister who visited the Sitarampur Dam site in Gamharia in the neighbouring Seraikela Kharsawan district this afternoon issued the directive after an hour-long review meeting with officials of Subernarekha Multi-Purpose project and drinking water and sanitation department of both Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum district at Nirmal Bhawan here on Friday evening.
“The meeting was fruitful and dwelt upon several issues. The drinking water and sanitation department officials have been asked to take up the matter with forest department and start removing the trees near the embankment of the dam as otherwise after the tree grow big it would develop porosity in the soil beneath and eventually weaken the embankment,” Choudhary told the media.
According to information, 500 trees were planted last year by forest department on the embankment of Sitarampur Dam, which is the main source of drinking water for people living in Adityapur and Gamharia townships.
The Minister also reiterated that action would be initiated against the officials who had given clearance for plantation of trees. He also assured for timely completion of the `237-crore Bagbera-Chhota Govindpur drinking water plant.
“Though a section of tribals are opposing the construction of the water treatment plant in Bagbera and damaging the boundary walls of the plant. The administration will be directed to provide security while the private agency entrusted for construction of the project will also be asked to hire private security guards for the project,” he noted.
The `238-crore project sanctioned by the drinking Water and Sanitation Department would benefit a over 3 lakhs residing in 113 villages in 21 panchayats of Bagbera, Harharguttu, Ghaghidih, Kitadih and Parsudih. It envisages construction of a water treatment plant near Ghaghidih central jail and three water tanks. The project is expected to be completed by 2018.
The Minister also said that department officials have been directed to complete the tender process of second phase of the Mango water project. Incidentally, the Government has sanctioned `35 crore for laying pipelines in Mango areas in the second phase. The first phase of the project has been completed at a cost of `64.18 crore.