Land mafia is allegedly eyeing to fill up some tanks within city limits to use them as real estate. Administration has decided to take strict measures to prevent land mafia from filling up the tanks and water bodies in the city. According to the old revenue records Berhampur had 64 large tanks inside it. During British era the scions of Mahuri royal family had inter-connected the tanks for irrigation and drinking water facility in this area. But with time a large number of tanks have vanished from the map of the city. The canals that connected these tanks have also been filled up and concrete structures stand on them.
In the past Berhampur municipality played a major role in filling up of canals that inter-connected the tanks in this perennially water scarce city, in the name of urbanization. Without water being recharged by the canals, the condition of most tanks has deteriorated.
Land mafia is eyeing the remaining tanks in the city, said Berhampur Tehsildar Satrughna Kar. These unscrupulous elements are targeting the tanks that are in private possession, according to the records of the revenue department. The legal owners of these tanks are not in a position to maintain them. The land mafia is trying to buy these tanks in the heart of the city at low prices. Then they try to deteriorate the condition of the tank and ultimately fill it up so that it could be used as a patch of highly priced real estate to take up building activity, Mr. Kar added. But according to revenue officials the Supreme Court has directed that no water body can be destroyed even by its owner.
Recently a tank in the city was sold by its private owner to some persons who wanted to fill it up and use it for residential purpose. But this move was opposed by some locals. The matter is pending in the High Court.
Source: The Hindu
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