Mafia trying to grab govt land at Peer Bodhi Reservoir in Rohtak: Batra
Local MLA and senior Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Batra has alleged that the mafia was trying to take illegal possession of the government land at the Peer Bodhi Reservoir in Rohtak city. He also criticised the Waqf Board, which was responsible for taking care of the land, for not taking any action against the mafia.
“At present, the land is being filled with soil and plots will soon be carved out illegally there. The Peer Bodhi land is the city’s heritage, hence the state government must take immediate action to remove the encroachments from there and take control of the land to prevent further unlawful activities. I will flag the issue prominently in the ongoing Budget session of Vidhan Sabha,” claimed Batra while addressing a news conference here on Sunday.
“Over 125 years ago, 12 villages had come together to create this waterbody over 32.5 acres with an aim to store rainwater for its usage in drought-like situations. Over time, encroachments began there, reducing the area to just 12 acres, but the waterbody remained intact. In 1991, the land was transferred to the Waqf Board due to the presence of a ‘mazar’ there,” explained the MLA.
Batra said this reservoir holds vital importance in managing floodwaters as the excess water was later diverted to the Ghuskani canal from there. He accused the Waqf Board of not taking any action despite the land mafia being active in the area, hence the state government should, in this condition, take the land under its ambit to protect the water body. Moreover, the reservoir legally cannot be filled, he added.
Batra also urged the government to ensure that the entire 32 acres of the reservoir be preserved and developed. He called for a permanent solution to the waterlogging issue near Chhotu Ram Chowk and a pond located there should be developed as a reservoir to store rainwater.
The MLA also demanded proper stormwater drainage systems in areas like Model Town, Chhotu Ram Chowk, Railway Road, Power House and Housing Board so as to protect them from flood-like situation in the monsoon season.
In the reply to a question, Batra also mentioned that he had written a letter to Chief Minister Nayab Saini, listing 17 demands for Rohtak. “Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is in a dilapidated condition. The government should develop it as a Sports Excellence Centre. Similarly, synthetic tracks should be set up at Mansarovar Park, Devi Lal Park and Pt Shriram Sharma Park,” he added.
Batra called for special budget provisions for the Municipal Corporation to repair the city’s roads and streets, as many of them were in poor condition. He also urged the government to resolve the waterlogging problem in the HSVP sectors. He concluded by saying that he would raise these issues with full facts in the Assembly to fight for the betterment of Rohtak.
