UP issues eviction notices to canal colony residents

RUDRAPUR: Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly canal division has issued eviction notices to the residents of a canal colony of Banbasa in Uttarakhand. In the notices, the residents have been asked to vacate the colony or face the action under the Canal Act.

Prashant Verma, sub-divisional officer (SDO), headworks division, Sharda canal, Bareilly said, “We have issued notices to 997 people to vacate the canal’s land. We have sought their objections too. As the pre-process of eviction completes we will remove or demolish encroachments with the cooperation of police.”

Sharda barrage, canal and its areas fall in Uttarakhand, however, the maintenance and monitoring of the canal is done by the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government. A hydro-electric power house has been constructed on Sharda canal and the canal irrigates a large area of UP. Therefore, the state of Uttar Pradesh holds the barrage and the canal under its jurisdiction, since the distribution of the assets between the states, after the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000.

Sharda barrage on Sharda river and canal was constructed during the British era. Malcom Hailey, the then governor of UP province, inaugurated the barrage in 1928. At the time of construction, the labourers working on the project came from different areas and made makeshift homes on the canal land.

Some of them lived there even after the construction and so did their descendants. Later, the makeshift homes were replaced by concrete houses. Canal department supplied electricity and the state government set up government school and anganwadi.

Now, notices of eviction have been issued to such occupiers by the ziledar office (A departmental deputy revenue officer). The issuance of notices have created a fear of eviction among the residents.

Netrapal Chauhan, a resident of the colony, said, “Our ancestors worked on the construction of Sharda barrage during the British era. Britishers gave them land to reside. We have been here for decades and now the canal department of UP is terming us encroachers and has issued eviction notices to us. Where will we go at this stage.”

“Eviction notices were issued in the last few years by our department, but due pressure from the political arena, we couldn’t take any action. Now, seeing the Uttarakhand government’s anti-encroachment drive, our senior officials are initiating the eviction process from canal land,” said Verma.

Pratap Singh, another occupier of the canal land, said, “Our families have been living here for decades. We were assured by some ministers and MLAs that the ownership right will be given to us. Now, canal officials issue eviction notices. It is a question of our lives if we are removed from our places.”

Verma said if such occupiers of canal land don’t evict, an action will be taken under Canal Act by the ziledar office.

Our ancestors worked on the construction of Sharda barrage during the British era. Britishers gave them land to reside. We have been here for decades

NETRAPAL CHAUHAN,

Resident of canal colony