INDORE: A drone survey will be carried out to mark ‘every inch’ of encroachment within 30 metres of the highest flood level (HFL) of the Kanh and Saraswati rivers. A detailed project report (DPR) will also be prepared to seek funds under ‘Namami Gange Programme’.
Based on its survey conducted around five months ago, IMC had identified encroachments within 30 metres of HFL of both the rivers. The civic body has planned phase-wise removal of all structures falling within the set limit of the water bodies.
In the first phase, IMC has already served notices to around 150 structures in Kabutarkhana and Machhi Bazaar areas in June. The action of removing the encroachments has, however, not been started yet.
“The Kanh-Saraswati river frontside development project involves the participation of administration, IMC, IDA, T&CP, and different departments concerned as it’s a big initiative to rejuvenate and protect both these water bodies of Indore that merge with the Kshipra river,” divisional commissioner Deepak Singh said on Thursday while holding a meeting with collector Asheesh Singh, IMC commissioner Shivam Verma, IDA CEO RP Ahirwar, ISCDL CEO Divyank Singh, and senior officials from different departments concerned.
He said that while construction of sewage treatment plants (STPs) was underway at different locations to purify water of the Kanh-Saraswati rivers, removal of encroachments from 30 metres of HFL of both water bodies would help in restore their lost glory and natural flow.
The divisional commissioner said that a drone survey would be carried out for every ‘inch-marking’ of encroachments falling within the set catchment areas of both the rivers. A DPR would also be prepared to seek funds under Namami Gange Project for the rejuvenation work.
“The eligible families will be relocated in the PMYA flats,” he said.
After removing structures within 30 metre HFL of both the rivers, there are also plans to identify and remove constructions that have come up within nine metres HFL of six major nullahs, — Bhamori (7.5 km), Palasia (8.5 km), Piliyakhal (12 km), Azad Nagar (4 km), Tulsi Nagar (9 km), and Narwal nullah (16 km), covering a total of around 57 km.
Besides instructions from National Green Tribunal and provisions of Master Plan 2021, the rejuvenation and cleaning of the Kanh and Saraswati rivers were a priority ahead of Ujjain Simhastha 2028, a senior IMC official said.
The collector has instructed revenue officials to make correction in the land records by replacing the word ‘nullah’ with ‘river’ for the Kanh and Saraswati rivers. Taking advantage of the same, some colonies had come up within 30 metres of HFL of both rivers after obtaining the required permissions.
