Patiala deputy commissioner Varun Roojam on Sunday took stock of the cleaning project of a holy pond at historic Vaman Avatar temple.
Roojam said this time locals were also roped in by the administration in the cleaning drive.
The unhygienic condition of the pond affects the locals.
“I have instructed Patiala sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Gurpal Singh Chahal to take action against people encroaching into area around the temple and to remove all encroachments,” said Roojam.
“The sewerage has been blocked by the accumulation of sewage in the pound. The contaminated water is being pumped out of the pound,” said the DC.
The administration has also provided tractors and a JCB machine to Vande Matram, an NGO, for the cleaning of the pound.
Meanwhile, the SDM, who is monitoring the cleaning project, said: “The temple has 42 bighas under its discretion on which 134 illegal encroachers are thriving, found a survey conducted by the administration in 2007.”
The boundary wall was constructed with help of a community centre and MP’s fund, while the municipal corporation constructed a road along the temple.