With the onset of monsoon, it rained heavily on Saturday and Sunday. Due to which the water level of the river drains has increased. On the other hand, six months have passed since financial approval was given for the construction of CC embankment for the protection of Gauharimafi and Khadri Khadgamaf villages, which were most affected by the Saung river floods.
Officials of Revenue, Irrigation and Rajaji Park Administration also conducted joint survey thrice, but the permission (NOC) for the work has not yet been received from the Park Administration.
Alam is that the Irrigation Department and the Gram Panchayat are dependent on the mercy of the park administration even for taking immediate measures for flood protection. Because of which permanent work could not even be done far away.
Not only this, the water used for irrigation in Goharimafi is also lifted from the Saung river into the canal. The park administration is not giving permission for this work also. Due to which the problem of irrigation of fields remains in front of the farmers. The villagers say that the park officials are doing arbitrariness under the guise of forest law.
Joint survey has been done:
The condition of the land has become clear in the joint survey of Parks, Irrigation and Revenue Department for flood protection scheme on April 19 last month. Most of the embankment is to be built on the land of the Revenue and Horticulture Department. It has also been clarified in the report that due to the construction of the embankment, there will be no adverse effect on the migration of wildlife, but it will also protect the forest land and forest wealth.
Despite this, NOC has not yet been issued by its administration. This time there is a possibility of big danger, a large part of Goharimafi, Khadri, Thakurpur, Chakjogiwala and Sahabnagar is in danger of flood. In the past years, many bighas of fields were cut off due to floods in the Saung river. Food grains and goods got spoiled due to water entering the houses.
The river has started flowing adjacent to the village. Khadri’s village head Sangeeta Thapliyal said that the park administration is becoming a hindrance in the development and security works. Far from starting the scheme, even the wire mesh was not filled for alternative arrangements, if there is a boom in the song, then this time there is a possibility of huge loss.
22 crore schemes stuck:
Due to non-receipt of NOC from the Rajaji Park administration, flood protection schemes worth Rs 22 crore have been put on hold. In fact, under the State Disaster Mitigation Head, 986.05 lakhs for embankment on the banks of river Saung towards Goharimafi, 812.45 lakhs for embankment on the banks of river Ganga and 445.10 lakhs for the protection of Khadri village on the other side of river Saung river have been approved.
Due to this, about 2100 meter embankment is to be built on the river bank. Irrigation Department’s Executive Engineer DC Uniyal says that the work will start only after getting NOC from the Forest Department.
Even after the situation became clear in the joint survey, the Park Officer unnecessarily delayed in issuing NOC. Even the river was not allowed to channelize and do temporary work. If there is damage due to flood, the forest department will be responsible for it.
– Rohit Nautiyal, Village Head, Goharimafi
According to the guidelines of the Supreme Court, concrete construction cannot be done in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve area. The place where the wall is to be built in the Song river is a park area. That’s why the related file has been sent to the government. On which the decision can be taken from there itself. Birla Mandir area is under Dehradun Division.
– Kahksha Naseem, Deputy Director, Rajaji Tiger Reserve
