Anti-encroachment drive by district administration in Kanke Dam catchment areas under Hehal Circle continued third day on Monday with public protest almost faded by now. Unlike previous days, instances of forceful protest was least on the day indicating that the landowners appeared to have confessed their unlawful activities of constructing house on prohibited lands. However, the police were provoked to apply mild force at a few locations with no grave injuries to anyone.
“House owners were found vacating the houses and taking goods to other places by the time we arrived to resume demolition drive at 9 AM in the morning in Hesag mouza. We got some 5 acres of land freed from those encroachers in the day, many of whom had kept their muscles flexing since the time they forcibly constructed their houses. But they all, 17 in total, had sensed that we were not there to stop until last marked house was demolished. We believe that we will finish the task by Tuesday and will get entire area encroachment free,” said Hehal CO Anil Kumar Singh who led demolition drive supported by police personnel and other forces.
Singh said that the administration had identified around 170 establishments on couple of lanes leading to the dam from Kanke road including houses and shops and buildings. “Occupying over 40 acres of the dam, these constructions have not only posed threats to the security of dam, but had also defaced its natural beauty of the this 60 year old dam. It is actually surprising to know that no one stopped these buildings to take shape at very first place. We have written to the Drinking Water Department to ensure that no such encroachment takes place in future,” Singh added.