THE Supreme Court’s directive to submit the status report on the ponds and lakes in the district and illegal possession over that, has put the district administration in a tight spot.
The administration was also directed to file an affidavit in Allahabad High Court regarding its exercise to evict the ponds from illegal possession after independence but so far administration has failed to produce any report.
It is noteworthy that Supreme Court had directed the district administration to preserve ponds and lakes as a water reservoir and to evict these ponds from illegal possession.
District officials were directed to submit an affidavit based on the status report to Allahabad High Court on or earlier to October 4, 2006 but so far, the district administration had failed to submit the affidavit.
Expressing his displeasure over the alleged dilly-delaying tactics of district administration, principal secretary Revenue Council has directed the district administration to submit the affidavit in the court before the date of next hearing.
They were directed to provide exact number of ponds and lakes in existence on January 26, 1950 and the report regarding the existing ponds and lakes on date of submitting the affidavit.
{{/usCountry}}They were directed to provide exact number of ponds and lakes in existence on January 26, 1950 and the report regarding the existing ponds and lakes on date of submitting the affidavit.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said that revenue council has directed district officials to submit detailed report regarding illegal possession and encroachment over ponds and lakes in urban areas and the report was to be submitted by November 28 but administration failed to do so.
The land mafias illegally possessed most of the ponds and developed residential flats on it, which has compounded the water logging problems.
The district officials have started a new exercise to dig new ponds under National Employment Guarantee Scheme to preserve the sources of water.
Meanwhile, ADM finance and revenue RD Yadav admitted that the illegal possession over the ponds had yet to be removed and the detailed report were expected soon.
However, he expressed hope that before the next day of hearing scheduled on December 11, the district administration would submit the affidavit regarding the status of the ponds and lakes.