Responsibility will be given to regulate the construction work along the banks of the Ganga to the Bhagirathi Valley Development Authority.
The Authority will be given all the powers under the Flood Control Act that are vested with the State Government. The Authority will submit a report on habitations near the river, distance from the river, scientific study, and regularisation of construction within three months. A survey will be held to regulate development work from the source of the Ganga to laksar. Discussions on these subjects were held at a meeting held in the Secretariat, today, which was presided over by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar.
Discussions were also held on stopping all illegal construction along the river banks. It was decided to enforce the Flood Zoning Act effectively. The CS has given directions that there should be a ban on permanent construction being carried out on every river bank of the state, along with the Ganga. He said that this should be controlled in coordinated fashion by the home, irrigation, forest and revenue departments.
Present at the meeting were Additional Chief Secretaries Rakesh Sharma and BP Pandey, Principal Secretary, Forest, M Ramaswamy, Secretary, Housing, DS Gabryal, Secretary, Revenue, Bhaskaranand, Secretary, Irrigation, Ajay Pradyot and other senior officers.