BHANDARA: At a time when protection of water bodies is given a top
priority, old water bodies in Bhandara are being destroyed by the owners
allegedly with the support of some municipal councillors to use their
land for residential purposes. Neither the revenue officials nor the
municipal authorities have raised any objection to it nor sent notices
to the parties concerned.

A case in example is the Nav Talao, an old irrigation tank in Shastri Nagar. The tank is owned by Sayyad Abdul Ali
and Sayyad Bakar Ali of Bhandara. The total area of the tank is 26.88
hectares. It irrigates 15.86 hectares of land. It is a perennial source
of irrigation for the land in its command area. As per revenue records,
the tank is more than 200 years old and is known as one of the oldest
water bodies. Till now, it was an irrigation tank. But in June, the
owners cut the size of the bank and drained out water.

When
asked, the owners of Nav Talao said stagnant water was getting polluted,
resulting in the death of fish and hence the tank was emptied. However,
sources said the motive behind emptying the tank could be to use land
for residential purposes. Sources claimed that if a layout is laid and
plots are sold, it could fetch more than Rs200 crore.

Though Nav
Talao is a privately owned tank, sources said the person behind the
exercise is a senior municipal councillor. In the recent past, many
water bodies have been converted into residential areas. This is despite
the Supreme Court ruling that water bodies cannot be destroyed nor its
land use purpose be changed. Earlier, three water bodies of the city
were destroyed. Nav Talao would be the fourth one to be used for other
purpose. Housing colonies have come up in place of three other water
bodies.

When contacted, SDO (revenue) Vinod Harkande said he was
unaware of it. He said the patwari of Bhandara will inquire into the
matter and submit a report. After verifying the report, action would be
taken against the parties concerned.