DVC seeks govt help to drive out encroachers

MAITHON (DHANBAD): The debt-ridden Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) on Sunday sought the district administration’s help to remove encroachers from its quarters located at Right Bank Maithon and Left Maithon, sources said.

Even a high court order in 2014 failed to have any impact on hundreds of people who were living in those quarters for decades, sources further said.

The DVC management also issued a notice on January 21 this year, asking the encroachers to vacate the quarters by February 4.

According to t he notice issued by senior division engineer (civil) and estate officer Jayant Biswas, encroachers are living in 120 quarters.

A senior DVC of f i cial, requesting anonymity, told HT, “As the encroachers did not vacate the quarters, the management has sought the district administration’s help to remove them.”

The officer said as encroachers had the support of different

EVEN A HC ORDER IN 2014 FAILED TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON ENCROACHERS LIVING IN DVC QUARTERS FOR DECADES IN MAITHON

political parties it would not be easy to remove them.

“Besides occupying t he quarters, they are also using free-of-cost power and water of DVC increasing the debt of the corporation. The power company is already under debt of ` 30,000 crore,” he said.

The management of a school, Aroma Centre of Human Unity, which has occupied a huge area in Ranchi Colony of DVC Maithon and some quarters, had challenged the notice at a Dhanbad court.

After losing the battle in the lower court, the school had moved the HC which, too, directed it to vacate the quarters immediately.

DVC’s new project officer BD Sahu intensified the antiencroachment drive.