Ranchi: Jharkhand High Court heard the PIL filed suo motu regarding encroachment and cleanliness of rivers and water sources in the state. The division bench of Justice Rangan Mukhopadhyay and Justice Deepak Roshan said during the hearing that Kanke Dam and Getalsud Dam are full of water hyacinth. The water is dirty and water storage is also less due to water hyacinth. In this situation, cleaning of water hyacinth should be started immediately. The division bench directed the state government and Ranchi Municipal Corporation to immediately start the process of removing water hyacinth from the dams. During the hearing, the division bench looked at the reports of Geological Survey of India and ISM Dhanbad related to groundwater. After taking information from the official of the Central Institute, the division bench orally said that water crisis occurs during summer.
The lowering of groundwater level every year is worrying. The government should make every possible effort to maintain the groundwater level in Jharkhand including the capital. The division bench directed to submit a detailed plan to maintain the groundwater level. For this, the division bench directed the Water Resources Department, Urban Development Department, Central Water Board. Said that a plan should be presented with suggestions to maintain the groundwater level in entire Jharkhand including Ranchi. The division bench directed Ranchi Municipal Corporation to ensure water harvesting in houses. Said that a survey should be conducted and people should also be made aware by publicizing it. The next hearing of the case will be on April 22.
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The corporation has made rules for water harvesting in buildings:
Advocate LCN Shahdev, appearing for Ranchi Municipal Corporation, told the bench that the Municipal Corporation has made rules for water harvesting in buildings. It is mandatory to install water harvesting in buildings with area of 300 square meters or more. A survey of whether water harvesting has been made in the building or apartment or not is also conducted by the Municipal Corporation. One and a half times additional holding tax is charged as fine from building owners and apartment residents who do not follow this, unless water harvesting is done by them.