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Jaipur, 29 July (HS). Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat told the state assembly on Monday that in compliance with the High Court's directive, the state government has constituted a district level committee under the chairmanship of Jaipur District Collector for monitoring and supervision in the flow area and catchment area of Ramgarh Dam. This committee is continuously taking action to identify and remove obstructions and encroachments in the catchment area of the dam as per rules. In the current situation of the entire flow area, obstructions and encroachments will be surveyed through remote sensing and drones.
Rawat was responding to a question of attention motion by Malviya Nagar MLA Kalicharan Saraf during Zero Hour regarding the situation arising due to no water inflow due to resorts, farm houses, permanent constructions etc. built by influential people in the catchment area of Ramgarh Dam, which is the main water source of Jaipur city. He informed that as per the revenue records, the water catchment area of this dam is 3610.80 hectares, in which 2679.88 hectares is under the jurisdiction of Revenue Department and 930.92 hectares is under the jurisdiction of Jaipur Development Authority. Besides this, water also flows through private land at many places.
Rawat informed that several efforts have been made so far to remove encroachments in the flow and catchment area of Ramgarh Dam. Till date, obstructions and encroachments have been identified and removed on 323.30 hectares of land. This action will continue in future as well. As per the directions of the High Court, anicuts of more than two meters height have been demolished and their height has been limited to two meters. He informed that 638 references were prepared and presented to the Revenue Board under Section 16 of Rajasthan Tenancy Act for cancellation of orders given regarding the land of rivers and canals in the catchment area of the dam, out of which 338 have been decided and 336 have been complied with. Also, circulars have been issued by various departments to prohibit the construction of new structures in the catchment area of Ramgarh Dam. To make the inflow of water in Ramgarh dam smooth and easy, the Water Resources Department has got the channelization work done in a distance of 17 kilometers in the main source of inflow, Banganga river.
The Water Resources Minister informed that a monitoring committee has been constituted by the High Court for physical verification of activities taking place in the catchment area of Ramgarh Dam, which visits the catchment area of Ramgarh Dam from time to time and submits a report of the situation to the High Court. On the basis of the report, the High Court provides necessary guidelines to various departments. Also, as per the order of the High Court, a committee has been constituted, in which senior Indian Administrative Service officer Dr. Samit Sharma is the nodal officer. The committee has been directed to identify obstructions and encroachments from satellite images and take action.
He informed that by 21st July 2024, a departmental committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Engineer, Water Resources Division, Jaipur to obtain factual information regarding obstructions and encroachments in the Ramgarh Dam area. Also, an inquiry will be conducted for giving wrong answer to the question asked in the assembly session and action will be taken against the guilty officer. Rawat informed that the process of investigation and preparation of list of No Objection Certificates issued by the Water Resources Department to the Revenue Department and Jaipur Development Authority etc. institutions by the departmental committee in the last 5 years is in process. The committee is also investigating whether the No Objection Certificates have been issued against the rules. In case of issuance of No Objection Certificate against the rules, a list of the officers who issued them will also be prepared. A map of the current status will be prepared by conducting a survey of the filling area of Ramgarh Dam and it is proposed to prepare a record by collecting information related to Khasra etc. of the filling area.
The Water Resources Minister informed that it is proposed to survey the obstructions and encroachments in the current status of the entire flow area of the main rivers falling in the flow area of Ramgarh Dam through remote sensing and drone. Also, it is proposed to get the work done under the budget announcement in the flow area recorded in the revenue records related to the drains and rivers of Banganga, Madhoveni and Gomti. He assured the House that the department will continue to take action in future also to identify and remove the obstructions and encroachments.