New drive to reclaim the Sitalakhya

THE campaign to reclaim our rivers, in which this newspaper has been playing a leading role, appears to have been given fresh impetus through a new move to free the Sitalakhya of encroachment. We might add here that of late no less a personality than the prime minister has directed the authorities to reclaim rivers from the unscrupulous and predatory elements who have over the years seized increasingly larger chunks of them. Added to that are the directives served by the judiciary about making the rivers free and therefore going back to public hands.
Against such a background, we look upon the fresh drive to reclaim the Sitalakhya as a necessary step and one that is obviously in the right direction. An important component of this drive is the removal of makeshift structures as well as sand from in and around the river. What should now be made clear to citizens is that this time round the drive will reach a logical conclusion and, unlike a previous drive undertaken not long ago, will not be halted halfway. On 20 October, the authorities undertook an operation to remove unauthorized structures erected by encroachers and also directed the latter to remove the sand they had piled at various points around Kanchpur bridge. That did not work as the encroachers simply ignored the orders. By any measure that was a gross violation of rules, indeed of the law; and it should have been for the authorities to take drastic and immediate action against the encroachers. It is not exactly edifying when people who indulge in wrong or criminal acts can defy governmental authority with impunity. However, now that a new drive has been launched regarding the Sitalakhya, we trust the programme will not only bear fruit but will also act as an instance that can be replicated in a reclamation of lakes and rivers elsewhere in the country.
On the first day of the fresh drive, as we understand, twenty unauthorized structures were dismantled. That is good news. But now must come determined steps to have the sand piled up along the river removed as quickly as possible. A particular focus on such drives should be speed and a sense of immediacy followed by security around the reclaimed areas. The authorities have, of course, provided for bidders to remove the accumulated sand within fifteen days from Ati near the bridge. Let that plan be rigorously followed and the task of the removal of sand completed through round the clock work. Apart from engaging men to remove the sand, it must be a priority with the authorities to take to task those who have encroached on the Sitalakhya. Reclaiming the river without at the same time penalizing the encroachers will simply raise some uncomfortable questions.