Shankar Talab Areas Still In Grip Of Encroachers In Balaghat

Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh): Six months have passed since the case of removing encroachers from Shankar Talab in the Waraseoni area in Balaghat came up at a public hearing at the collectorate.

Some social activists put up an application at the public hearing on November 5 last year, demanding the removal of encroachers from the areas around the water body.

At the meeting, the collector marked the application to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and directed him to ensure the removal of illegal occupants from the site.

The SDM then directed the Tehsildar and the chief municipal officer of Waraseoni to remove the encroachers.

Nearly six months have passed since the SDM issued the order. But the order is not complied with.

The administration’s order came after a social activist filed a petition before the high court.

He sought a directive from the high court to implement the order of the then collector, Bharat Yadav. The collector issued the order on August 21, 2016.

During an inquiry, Yadav came to know that 55 people illegally occupied the land around the Shankar Talab.

In the past nine years, the administration has failed to remove the encroachers from the Shankar Talab area.

Now, the state government has launched a campaign to restore the water bodies under Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan.

But the administration has yet to remove the encroachers.