Ranchi, February 4: The Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concerns regarding encroachments on three major water bodies in Ranchi: Kanke Dam, Dhurwa Dam, and Getalsud Dam. The court has summoned the district administration to provide a detailed affidavit clarifying the total land acquired for these dams, the extent of encroachment, and the actions taken to remove these encroachments.
The court also inquired whether surveys had ever been conducted for these dams and their catchment areas. Additionally, it requested a compliance report from the Ranchi Municipal Corporation regarding previous court orders. During the proceedings, advocate LCN Shahdev represented the municipal corporation. The next hearing is scheduled for March 26.
During the hearing, advocate Shahbaz Akhtar, representing the state government, informed the court that efforts to remove encroachments along the Hinu and Harmu rivers and in the Dhurwa Dam area are ongoing. He noted that some actions had been stalled due to stay orders from the court.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) reported to the court that FIRs have been filed against guilty officials and personnel involved in illegal constructions and land transactions near Dhurwa Dam. Based on these FIRs, the ACB has also registered a separate case.
Amicus Curiae Indrajeet Sinha informed the court that significant encroachments have occurred in the catchment areas of Kanke, Dhurwa, and Getalsud Dams. He emphasized that despite previous directives from the High Court regarding encroachments, effective action has yet to be taken. Sinha highlighted the critical situation at Kanke Dam, where extensive encroachment poses a potential risk of water scarcity in the future.
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