RMC intensifies crackdown on illegal buildings over water bodies

Ranchi: The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has stepped up its drive against encroachments on water bodies and drainage channels across the city, carrying out a series of demolition and survey operations following directions to free these places from illegal occupation.

The latest action was taken on Monday at Bandhgari under ward 6, where the corporation demolished five illegal structures constructed on govt land and over drainage channels.

The structures had obstructed natural water flow and occupied public land. The demolition was carried out by the RMC’s enforcement team, which also restored the affected drains to their original alignment.

The Bandhgari operation came days after RMC launched a major drive around Kanke dam. Between Friday and Monday, civic body officials inspected the dam’s peripheral zone and subsequently demolished 13 illegal piggeries operating on land near the reservoir. Officials said that more action will be taken as part of the civic body’s mega drive to protect the water bodies from shrinking.

During an inspection of the Kanke dam waterfront on Friday, municipal commissioner Sushant Gaurav directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the protection of the reservoir and ordered the formation of a special task force, involving sanitation, engineering, transport, town planning and land management wings.

“The corporation will take concrete and effective measures for the conservation of Kanke dam. All forms of encroachment and activities affecting the water body will be identified and addressed through coordinated action,” Gaurav said.

Survey work has been intensified along the Harmu river corridor as well. RMC teams, along with zonal officials, have undertaken measurement exercises in Panchsheel Nagar and adjoining areas using drone mapping and ground verification to identify structures falling within encroached zones. Officials said the marked areas will be reviewed and action taken as per legal provisions after the survey report is finalised.

The intensified enforcement drive follows directions issued during a high-level review of the urban development and housing department on May 29, when chief minister Hemant Soren asked officials to identify and remove encroachments from rivers, dams, ponds, drains and other water bodies across the state. The CM directed authorities to conduct surveys and issue notices to violators.