Ranchi: The Jharkhand High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Ranchi Municipal Corporation over the disappearance of ponds in Ranchi.
The court questioned the corporation, asking where the 71 ponds reported to have existed in Ranchi have gone. Currently, only four or five ponds are visible in the city. The court sought detailed information from the municipal corporation about these ponds, wondering if their existence was a mere dream or a reality.
Previously, the state government had filed a report regarding the preservation of water sources and ponds in Ranchi. It was revealed that the government had submitted an affidavit in 2016 about a long-term plan to address the drinking water shortage in Ranchi and about the removal of encroachments from the Dhurwa, Kanke, and Getalsud dams as well as the Hinu River. However, this plan has not been implemented.
Eight years later, encroachments continue to affect water sources and dams in Ranchi. The court noted that the state government continues to repeat the same statements in its reports, which were made eight years ago.
The court also observed ongoing encroachments on the Harmu and Jumrar rivers and that the capacity of the Kanke and Dhurwa dams has been reduced due to encroachment in their catchment areas. With 35% less rainfall this year and increasing population, there is a risk of severe drinking water scarcity in Ranchi in the coming years.
The public interest litigation related to this issue has been ongoing since 2011, but the state government has only submitted affidavits without substantial progress. The court has ordered that the matter be reviewed again on August 28 and has directed the municipality to clean and remove encroachments from the three dams in Ranchi.