Jhansi's Revived Dhurarai River Faces New Threat from Illegal Construction
In Jhansi district of Bundelkhand, the 85-kilometer River Dhurarai has captured attention in 2024. This tributary of the Betwa River gained prominence after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the efforts of Bundelkhand's Jal Sahelis. They successfully revived the nearly dried-up water body through dedicated work.
Now, the river faces serious threats to its survival. Alleged developers have started construction on its banks at several locations. This activity occurs within the scheduled buffer zone of the river, raising environmental concerns.
Jal Sahelis Lodge Police Complaint
A group of Jal Sahelis recently filed a police complaint about the issue. They warned that the construction poses a significant danger to the river's existence. The Dhurarai River serves as a lifeline for dozens of villages, providing essential irrigation and potable water.
Reports indicate sudden and rampant construction near the riverbank in Simrawari village. This village falls under the Babina police station jurisdiction. The Jal Sahelis, led by environment activist Sanjay Singh, allege that work began on a proposed residential colony covering 500 square meters.
Activist Voices Strong Objections
Sanjay Singh raised serious objections to the construction. He stated, "The river, which is a tributary of the Betwa, will serve as a lifeline to thousands of villagers in over a dozen villages in both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It almost dried up, but with sustained voluntary initiative by over 30 Jal Sahelis, the river was rejuvenated, providing succour to people."
He further argued, "Once again, it is under threat as the flow of water is partially encroached upon due to illegal construction." Singh emphasized that any construction near the riverbed is prohibited. Such activities can pose a severe environmental threat to the water body.
Prime Minister's Recognition
The efforts of the Jal Sahelis received high-level recognition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded their work during his 'Mann Ki Baat' episode on September 30, 2024. He appreciated their efforts, terming it an "incredible effort" by the Jal Sahelis.
River's Course and Revival Efforts
The Dhurarai tributary starts from the Cantonment area in Babina. It flows through 14 villages in both Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The river culminates in the River Betwa at Orchha in Madhya Pradesh.
The river previously dried up after part of its bank suffered damage. This damage caused an outflow of water. The Jal Sahelis repaired the broken section by placing hundreds of sandbags over the damaged area, effectively reviving the water flow.
Administrative Response and Legal Perspective
Following the complaint, SDM (Sadar) Gopesh Tiwari and circle officer Ramveer Singh visited the site. They were accompanied by administrative officials from the mining and forest departments. Their visit aimed to review the allegations of illegal construction.
SDM Tiwari stated, "I, along with our team, visited the site and found no obstruction in the flow of the river. We are further demarcating the construction site, which will take some time."
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Akash Vashishtha provided legal insight. He noted that according to a statutory government notification, no construction activity can occur on riverbanks falling under the 100-year high flood level area. This area is officially notified as the Flood Plain area.
The situation remains tense as local communities watch developments closely. They hope for swift action to protect their vital water source from further encroachment.
