Brief reporting on Sonai River/Khal in ... - India Water Portal
Brief reporting on Sonai River/Khal in ... - India Water Portal
Brief reporting on Sonai River/Khal in ... - India Water Portal
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“In terms of my earlier references of documents it can also be<br />
said that while C.S. and R.S. maps are silent <strong>in</strong> respect of the<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g of S<strong>on</strong>ai <strong>River</strong>/<strong>Khal</strong>, yet report of Major General,<br />
Director Eastern Circle, Survey of <strong>India</strong> dated 27/06/2001<br />
(Annexure B/3) Work Order of Irrigati<strong>on</strong> Department under the<br />
Government of West Bengal L.A. Cases for the acquisiti<strong>on</strong> of<br />
land for the purpose of excavati<strong>on</strong> of S<strong>on</strong>ai <strong>Khal</strong>/<strong>River</strong><br />
(Annexure E-Series) that there was also existence of S<strong>on</strong>ai <strong>Khal</strong><br />
/<strong>River</strong> <strong>in</strong> the Natagarh Mouza under P.S. Khardah”.<br />
We are eagerly wait<strong>in</strong>g to see whether the court’s firmness <strong>in</strong><br />
this case can make any difference to S<strong>on</strong>ai’s proposed<br />
resuscitati<strong>on</strong> and ecological health.<br />
9 Offend<strong>in</strong>g parties : Both Government bodies and private <strong>in</strong>dividuals.<br />
It needs to be said here that authorities of Panihati Municipality<br />
is a prime offender which has mutated and sancti<strong>on</strong>ed build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
plan <strong>on</strong> the water bodies of <strong>River</strong> S<strong>on</strong>ai. It has not even<br />
complied with the specific Order of Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Bench of<br />
Calcutta High Court.<br />
10 C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> of<br />
bridge over <strong>River</strong><br />
S<strong>on</strong>ai <strong>in</strong> 2003.<br />
It need to be said here that cluster of houses stand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the<br />
very bed of <strong>River</strong> S<strong>on</strong>ai <strong>in</strong> Kalyannagar have been built even<br />
after the Green Bench Orders <strong>in</strong> 1997 and 1998. Despite High<br />
Court Orders bann<strong>in</strong>g such activities Panihati Municipality has<br />
mutated land reclaimed <strong>on</strong> S<strong>on</strong>ai and sancti<strong>on</strong>ed build<strong>in</strong>g plan<br />
illegally.<br />
: In a recent decisi<strong>on</strong> the Panihati Municipal authority has<br />
sancti<strong>on</strong>ed Rs.8.00 Lakhs for c<strong>on</strong>struct<strong>in</strong>g a bridge over <strong>River</strong><br />
S<strong>on</strong>ai at Kalyannagar – Bodhikanan area, Mouza Natagarh<br />
keep<strong>in</strong>g clearance for flow of water. C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> of the bridge<br />
started <strong>in</strong> April/May 2003.<br />
Surpris<strong>in</strong>gly water bodies of <strong>River</strong> S<strong>on</strong>ai at Ghola Natun Bazar,<br />
Bistubhadrer Mor, Natagarh and Panchanantala area – all<br />
under Panihati Municipality are be<strong>in</strong>g filled up c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uously by<br />
municipal garbage and all sorts of waste materials for the last<br />
few years despite public protests/agitati<strong>on</strong> and written<br />
submissi<strong>on</strong> to the authorities c<strong>on</strong>cerned. Such m<strong>in</strong>dless and<br />
unethical destructi<strong>on</strong> of river is be<strong>in</strong>g allowed to c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ue year<br />
after year. It may be noted here that there is a permanent<br />
<strong>in</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> imposed by the H<strong>on</strong>’ble High Court restrict<strong>in</strong>g /<br />
restra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g all types of development work <strong>on</strong> the <strong>River</strong> and also<br />
by the side of <strong>River</strong>.<br />
S<strong>on</strong>ai – <strong>in</strong>itially as a flow<strong>in</strong>g river and later, as a str<strong>in</strong>g of water<br />
bodies – was a critical comp<strong>on</strong>ent of Sodepur’s natural<br />
dra<strong>in</strong>age and ra<strong>in</strong>water run-off system, the town now<br />
faces severe water-logg<strong>in</strong>g with every mild shower.