Land Mafias Build Colonies on Ponds, Resulting in Falling Water Levels
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: The city’s water resources are rapidly disappearing, with land mafias playing a significant role in leveling government ponds and selling the land for development. Colonies are springing up on once-valuable water bodies, threatening the city’s water supply and causing widespread concerns for local residents.
In several areas, including Kapali, Mango, Birsanagar, Kadma, Bagbera and Ghaghidih, land mafias have been leveling ponds to construct plots and houses. This illegal activity is allegedly carried out with the protection of the zonal office and local police, further exacerbating the problem. The disappearance of these water sources is directly affecting the underground water levels, causing severe issues for residents, especially during the summer months.
As a result, the water table in areas like Bagbera, Birsanagar, Mango, Ghaghidih and Adityapur has fallen below 500 feet. This has led to an annual struggle for many local communities, who face severe water shortages during peak summer. The Dainik Bhaskar team conducted an investigation into these areas and found that many ponds have already been filled in or are being prepared for development.
Kapali: Ponds replaced by colonies
Kapali, part of the Chandil region, but close to Mango, had a pond spanning approximately four acres in Albela Garden. This pond existed until 2016, when the land mafia leveled it and built a colony. Today, about 50 houses occupy the area and the remaining land is disputed between the land mafia and the colony’s residents regarding road access.
Chandil CO Amit Kumar Srivastava has stated that an investigation will be launched into the illegal filling and selling of this government pond. If found guilty, action will be taken against the land mafia and the structures built on the land.
Mango: Shrinking acid pond
Mango’s Zakirnagar area once featured a three-acre acid pond, but its size has been steadily diminishing. A tribal family claims ownership of this pond and the land mafia is using this family as a pawn in their illegal activities, selling off plots. More than three dozen houses have already been constructed on the land. Mango CO Brajesh Shrivastava confirmed that a complaint has been received regarding the levelling of this pond, stating that action would be taken, even if it is a raiyati (privately held) pond.
Bagbera: Destruction of 10 acres of ponds
In Bagbera, around 10 acres of ponds near Baroda Ghat and Kusum Ghat have been levelled to create residential plots. These ponds, once vital sources of water, have been sold off by the land mafia, who have also begun selling tribal land. More than 50 plots have already been sold and local authorities are now looking into the situation. Bagbera CO Manoj Kumar has pledged to investigate the matter, noting that ponds cannot be legally sold and that action would be taken against those involved.
These disturbing trends highlight the growing problem of encroachment on vital water bodies in Jamshedpur, a city already struggling with water scarcity. The impact on the environment and local communities is severe and immediate action is needed to halt this illegal practice before more vital water resources are lost.
Who will bell the cat?. Legal custodian local law abd order having powers and capable to deployment of force to arrest mafia illigal activities; damage national reserves and resources for a better survival of Environment. Corruption officials like cancer taking lives of nation
What was the government officials doing when the ponds were filled up with mud, and being levelled? Sleeping or taking the suitcase full of bribe? Or both? Why are they even ordering an enquiry now? Do they think the public are fools, they dont know anything?