The Jharkhand High Court on Friday directed the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) to take the lead in monitoring and curbing encroachments on waterbodies in Ranchi, stressing on coordinated action by multiple government agencies.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad ordered that the Member Secretary of JHALSA will head a multi-agency committee to oversee the implementation of measures aimed at protecting lakes, dams, and reservoirs in the state capital.
The court mandated that the committee must include representatives from the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Water Resources Department, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner’s office, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), and local Circle Officers. JHALSA’s para-legal volunteers will also assist in monitoring efforts.
The bench further directed the Member Secretary to convene a meeting within two weeks of receiving the relevant records and prepare a comprehensive report on the steps taken by various departments to remove encroachments.
During the hearing, the bench examined affidavits submitted by the Ranchi DC, Urban Development Department, and the RMC. The Ranchi DC informed the court that encroachments around Ranchi Lake had been cleared. Meanwhile, the Urban Development Department stated that it had sanctioned ₹38.35 lakh to the Jharkhand Space Application Centre for aerial mapping of the Kanke, Dhurwa, and Getalsud dams to assess their present condition.
The court was also apprised of a garbage dump created by the RMC near Prabhat Tara School and Paras Hospital in Dhurwa. The location of the dump, close to the international cricket stadium and a residential area, raised concerns about its impact on the health of residents and patients.
The matter will be taken up again on October 10. The bench directed that a consolidated report be submitted by then.
