Locals welcome HC order on encroachments & sanitation

The residents of Haridwar have welcomed the recent High Court orders directing the authorities to remove encroachments from public roads, streets and footpaths while also cleaning the Ganga ghats and ensuring scientific disposal of garbage. The residents opine that the encroachments and illegal constructions including slums have not only disfigured the city but are also causing various civic problems to the detriment of the public.

Local resident JS Rana opined that the issue of encroachments is a major issue which is often neglected. “Encroachments result in traffic jams and accidents as the already narrow roads end up becoming narrower. In some cases it is also seen that people cover drains with slabs and then carry out illegal constructions. This is not right and also results in various problems.”

In general, the residents are not satisfied with the attitude of the officials concerned regarding such problems. “The Government conducts periodic anti-encroachment drives but after it is done, people start encroaching at the same sites again. The Government should decide upon and stringently enforce fines and penalty for the encroachers as only this is likely to stop them,” said businessman Madan Arora, who owns a shop near Laltara Bridge. “Slums are also bad but often we see that public representatives and Government officials themselves facilitate the construction of slums.

The Government should keep a stricter eye on such aspects. For the food stalls and vegetable/fruit carts lining the roads, vending zones should be included in town planning so that vendors get a place to sell their products and earn their livelihood without encroaching,” he added.

“There is a lot of garbage strewn around on the ghats along the Ganga. This needs to be disposed of properly. Also, while it cannot be denied that the slums that are built on Government lands are a problem, one should not just demolish them. Proper resettlement and rehabilitation plan should be formulated and the slum dwellers should be provided proper homes elsewhere,” said Tanisha Dhingra, a student living in Haridwar.

Resident of Jwalapur area, Vasan Siddhu felt that cleanliness of the Ganga should be of utmost importance. “Ganga is a pure river and should be kept clean at all costs. Ensuring proper garbage disposal and cleanliness of ghats is a very good order of the high court. We, the people should also take care to dispose of wrappers and any other garbage carefully in garbage bins instead of littering. Only then will the ghats be clean.”

It should be mentioned here that hearing on a public interest litigation, the High Court of Uttarakhand had on Thursday ordered the removal of encroachments from public roads, streets and footpaths in the city of Haridwar within one and a half month.

It had also directed the District Magistrate to ensure cleaning of the Ganga ghats while also directing the Garhwal commissioner to ensure action against officials during whose tenure the encroachments were made.