Indore
Illegal colonizers in Indore are not even leaving the pond and green belt land. On Wednesday, the Municipal Corporation and the administration went to the illegal colony being built in the catchment area of Sirpur Pond and demolished the illegal constructions. Cases will also be registered against those who cut illegal colonies. Eleven under-construction houses on the banks of the pond were demolished, while two families have been given two days’ time.
On the instructions of the National Green Tribunal, the Municipal Corporation is running a campaign to free the ponds of Indore from encroachment. The beginning is being made from Sirpur Pond, because this pond has got the status of Ramsar site.
Ten days ago, the officers had demarcated the land of Sirpur Pond and identified the illegal constructions coming under the boundary of the pond. After holding a meeting of the residents, the officers had warned them to remove the encroachment, but most of the people did not agree.
On Wednesday morning, the removal gang reached the spot with four JCBs and a Poklane and started the work of demolishing the houses being built in the illegal colony. 11 structures were demolished in two hours. Four days ago, the Municipal Corporation had removed more than twenty encroachments from the Dhar Road portion of Sirpur Pond.
Let us tell you that migratory birds come to this pond during winter and stay here for three to four months, but due to illegal settlements nearby and the water of the pond being contaminated, the number of birds had reduced in the last three years. To maintain the natural environment around the pond, the banks are being made encroachment free.
