Much-hyped Saraswati revival project hits roadblock in Y’nagar
THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE TRACE OF THE RIVER IN THE REVENUE RECORDS OF VILLAGES
YAMUNANAGAR: The modern avtara of mythical Saraswati river has hit a roadblock as the Haryana government is finding it difficult to dug up a 7km stretch in Yamunanagar district as there is no mention of the trace of the river in the revenue records. The said 7-km stretch fall in about five villages of the district.
Though the government had last year decided to acquire the land but nothing so far has been done. The move to acquire land may attract objections from the farmers, who, in case they agree to part with the land, will demand compensation at collector rate. “Yes the river is missing from the revenue record in our village and we came to know that they have conducted a survey to acquire land (30-foot wide stretch over 20 acres) . But the village elders say there was no river where the survey was conducted,” Gulshan Singh, sarpanch of Talakaur village,said.
“Besides panchayati land the government will require private land also and it is upto the owners of land whether they agree to part with it or not,” he said.
Moreover, the enthusiasm of the government has also waned away due to hiccups. “Yes the stretch of about 7 km was missing and the project will get delayed as the process to acquire land has not started yet,” said a senior officer of Yamunanagar district administration, requesting anonymity.
“A stretch of about 1km for the canal falls in our village, but nobody has so far approached us for the land and we do not have any information when they will start acquisition,” said Naresh Kumar, sarpanch of Mohri village.
Following delay in the completion of the 67-km stretch of Saraswati canal in all 42 villages of Yamunanagar district, the government had to release water in the canal from Uncha Chandna village from ShahbadNalvi branch to recharge the canal artificially. But completion of about 40-km canal from Adi-Badri to Uncha Chandana village of Yamunanagar remains a challenge for the government.
However, Arvind Kaushik, superintending engineer of Haryana irrigation department, said, “The work may get delayed but we will talk to the persons concerned for land acquisition.” The government had made a blueprint to revive Saraswati in several districts, and there a plan to build a dam at Rampura village and an artificial lake in Chhalaur village in the district.