There seems to be either a big-communication-gap or infinite-careless-loop between Tehsil and UIT when it comes to Randeda Lake Bed (Talab Peta), NH76 bypass as the encroachers make merry on the designated land of the Lake Bed.

A bit of history – the land in question has been a designated lake area since long time, but, in the last few years, Housing Board did plot allocation on the area and sold it too. Post the rains, owners of the plots, complained about their ‘land being submerged under water’ to UIT; this complaint which then was passed on to Collector and collector post investigation declared that the whole area is a designated lake area. Then, the entire plot allocation was cancelled.

When UT asked Sudesh Nahar, Patwari, UIT regarding the on-going encroachment in the Lake bed, he replied that, “There surely is an encroachment, but we can’t be sure as the boundary of the Lake bed is not yet confirmed by Girwa Tehsil, as it’s their responsibility”.

UT then asked Girwa Tehsil officials the same question, and they replied “The Lake Bed is defined, no doubt. But the boundary would be decided and confirmed by UIT as all the related engineers for the job are with UIT”.

Not only is there an encroachment, but the Randeda Lake Bed has been left abandoned from past few years. It is filled with water during the entire monsoon, and even months after, once fully filled; but then the water is wasted by diverting it to the barren land by the unknowns, or when its level exceeds its maximum holding capacity, it comes across the highway & into the residential colony of Sector-7 on the other side.

When UT approached Bhupendra Singh Bhati, President, Gupteshwar Nagar Development Committee, he said “The move of officially declaring Randeda Lake Bed by Collector was done around 2009. And, the encroachers have been active from a long time.”

He also added, “The unknown entities (possibly encroachers) often divert the water in rainy season to barren lands to hide the problems created by flowing water”.