Three years later, the Patwari river fails to submit a report on the encroachment on the land; DC Saman Time-Bound Report | Bharat News

Ferozepur: Due to illegal encroachment in the area of ​​about 47 km river to work for Hussainula Head to Hussainula Head, many border villages of Ferozepur come in danger of floods every year.Three years ago, when the case reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the then Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur also called a report from the patwaris in this regard, but after three years, neither a report has been submitted nor any action has been taken to remove encroachments from the river, resulting in flooding in the catches area every year.The release of Punjab’s water for Rajasthan has been opposed for a long time as the people of Punjab are demanding to stop their water from looting. Surprisingly, it is not just water that has been looted by the neighboring states, the land of the Sutlej River is also being looted by politically influential persons encroaching the dry bed of the river for the purpose of farming, allegedly with government officials.The river is about 47 km from the confluence of the Sutlees and Beas rivers built on the Heric Headworks of Hussanwala. But this river falling in this part of Punjab is completely dry because the backwater in the Sutlage River is blocked only in Harik headworks to make the ongoing flow in the canals going to Rajasthan facilitates.With the 47 km long area of ​​the river most of the time drying, influential farmers have illegally encroached on the land of this dry bed with the coincidence of the authorities. Not only has they started farming and other related activities, but they have also installed electric motors by boring the river land to irrigate their fields. These farmers have prepared fields by putting mud in the river according to their requirements.Due to this, when the water in Harik increases during the rainy season, water is released according to the river area, but due to lack of a road in the river and illegal encroachment on the river land, the water border causes floods towards villages.After a story on the issue by Toi on 11 December 2022, the matter was taken by the National Green Tribunal and a report was sought from the then Deputy Commissioner Amrit Singh, who further asked the concerned Patwari to present a detailed report, but after his transfer from Farozepur on 17 January 2023, the report has not yet reached the office of the Deputy Commissioner.When the then officials appeared unable to take action in the matter, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took cognizance of this. As the state government officials had no response during the attendance before the NGT, the authorities were fined Rs 25,000 by the tribunal. Despite this, the attitude of Punjab government officials was developed.With the onset of rains in the hills and rising water levels in Harik headworks, villagers living with the river embankment area have once again approached the Deputy Commissioner, who has ordered an inquiry, realizing the gravity of the issue.When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur Deepshikha Sharma said that the matter was not earlier in his notice as it was pending since 2022. Now, as soon as he came to know about this, he has formed a three-member investigation team under the leadership of SE of the canal department, which will submit a detailed report within seven days.