Land: grabbing the attention

Unabated encroachment is making a mockery of administration’s claim of making Haridwar a better place, writes P.S. Chauhan..

Gone are the days when Haridwar used to be a well-planned, clean and serene city, with broad roads and no traffic jams. But now encroachment in its various forms rules the city. As a matter of fact there is hardly place in the city where the menace of encroachment is not visible. One wonders that how can land grabbing on this level is possible despite norms and rules. To make the matter worse during these incessant rains these illegal structures have caused unprecedented water logging and traffic snarls. There is heavy encroachment on the beds of the rivulets and the drains in the city, such as the rain-fed, Lalta Rau which drains out water of the Shivalik Hills and of Brahmpuri, Nirmala Chhawani and the adjoining areas. The width of this seasonal rivulet has shrunk due to the construction of hotels and places of worship on its bed and on banks. Similarly, the big drain passing through Govindpuri, a posh colony, is under heavy encroachment. The drain at Katehra Bazar has become a shadow of its former self due to encroachment. Illegal construction on the water channels of the city is a major cause of water logging and creates floods like situation during monsoon. These encroachments do cause traffic snarls and accidents. On account of encroachment, the streets of the city have turned into lanes.

"During peak hours, it takes less time to reach Har-ki-Pauri from Shiv Murti on foot than on a two-wheeler or four-wheeler," says Prem Malik of Ram Nagar Colony. The busy markets of Upper Road, Moti Bazaar and Har-Ki-Pauri area in Haridwar, Kankhal Chowk and Kathera Bazar and Peeth Bazar in Jwalapur, are choking with encroachment. Shops have been illegally constructed on Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi temples vicinity, which are the reserved forest areas and are in the ecologically fragile zone. More than 200 houses have been constructed on the tunnel through which the railway line passes. It may cause major accident any time. Illegal colonies have come up on the land of the BHEL near Bhagat Singh Chowk as well.

Due to encroachment, the mela land is constantly shrinking, Durga Shankar Bhati, a social activist of Bhupatwala says that nearly 40 per cent of the mela land is under encroachment. Houses, shops and ashrams have been constructed in Bairagi Camp in the mela area. "There was a spurt in encroachment and illegal constructions during the last Kumbh, as administration was preoccupied with the holding of the mega event," says Adesh Tyagi, a social activist of Shiv Lok. As per rules of the government and the judgement of the High Court, there can be no construction of residential and commercial purposes within 200 meters of the bank of the Ganga. However, the rule is honoured more in its violation than in its observance.

The need of the hour is to launch anti-encroachment to save the city.