The decision of the State Government to ban constructions on riverbanks may be seen as a welcome development but public representatives and observers who point out that this only shows the lack of clarity in policy issues.
While construction has been banned on riverbanks, nothing has been said either about the existing constructions or about ascertaining the breadth of rivers which have been narrowed substantially by encroachments.
It is worth mentioning here that the estimated number of unauthorised settlements in Uttarakhand is more than 500 and many of them are located on river banks.
In Dehradun there are at least 100 such settlements with many on the banks of the Rispana and Bindal rivers.
According to Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli, the State Government needs to consider the scenario in Dehradun and also ascertain the breadth of the rivers to help in removing encroachment from river banks.
“Those living on the banks of the Rispana and Bindal face the risk of floods. There is lack of clarity in the Government policy,” he said responding to the fact that the Government had not stated what would be done with the constructions already existing on the river banks.
Apart from the seasonal Rispana and Bindal rivers in Dehradun which have been narrowed due to rising encroachments on their banks, abetted by politicians to garner votes, the Ganga in Rishikesh and Haridwar has also been surrounded by constructions on its banks in various areas.
Before creation of Uttarakhand, the Uttar Pradesh government had issued two orders in 1998 banning any activity within 200 metres of the Ganga but no action was taken on this by successive State Governments.
Observers now question whether the prohibition on construction on river banks announced by the State Government is going to be enforced effectively or whether it is just a formality to show that the Government is concerned about such major anomalies.
This will be a major challenge for the Uttarakhand Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority formed by the State following the recent disaster experienced in many parts of Uttarakhand.