RANCHI: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has intensified its efforts to clear water bodies and drainage channels of encroachments, conducting a series of demolition and survey operations to ensure these areas are free from illegal occupation.
The latest action took place on Monday at Bandhgari in Ward 6, where five illegal structures on government land and drainage channels were demolished.
The obstructive structures hindered natural water flow and occupied public land. The demolition was executed by RMC’s enforcement team, which also restored the drains to their original alignment.
This operation followed a significant crackdown around Kanke dam, where officials surveyed the area and dismantled 13 illegal piggeries located near the reservoir between Friday and Monday. More actions are planned as part of a broader initiative to preserve the city’s water bodies.
During a Friday inspection at Kanke dam, municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav instructed officials to develop a comprehensive action plan for the reservoir’s protection and to establish a special task force, involving various departments such as sanitation, engineering, transportation, town planning, and land management.
“The corporation is committed to implementing effective measures for Kanke dam’s conservation. All types of encroachments and activities affecting the water body will be identified and addressed through coordinated efforts,” Gaurav stated.
Additionally, survey work has been amplified along the Harmu river corridor, with RMC teams and zonal officials conducting measurements in Panchsheel Nagar and nearby areas using drone mapping and ground verification to identify encroachments. Once the survey report is finalized, actions will be taken in accordance with legal provisions.
This escalated enforcement drive aligns with directives from a high-level review of the urban development and housing department led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on May 29. He instructed officials to locate and remove encroachments from all rivers, dams, ponds, drains, and other water bodies statewide, along with issuing notices to violators.
