Dhar villagers say pond water is being pumped out day and night, threatening 12 fishing families

Residents of Nalavda village in Tirla block of Dhar district have alleged that water is being illegally drawn from the village's only pond and stored in a private pond. They say this has been going on for the past 15 days.

According to the villagers, some people have installed a motor at the pond that runs 24 hours a day. As a result, the water level in the pond is falling steadily. They say that if water keeps being drawn at this rate, the pond could dry up in the next three to four days.

The villagers say this is the only pond in Nalavda. The village's borewells and tubewells are recharged from it. Drinking water arrangements, as well as water for the gaushala (cow shelter) and for livestock, depend on this pond. If it dries up, the village could face a drinking water crisis, and animals would also have trouble getting water.

The pond has been leased out for fish farming through a fisheries industry cooperative society. Fish seed is released in it and reared, and the livelihoods of 12 families in the group depend on it. The group's president, Phoolchand, son of Mishrilal, had submitted an application addressed to the Collector, seeking an end to the alleged illegal drawing of water from the pond. The group says that if the pond dries up, fish farming will be affected and the livelihood of the 12 families will be at risk.

The villagers allege that a motor and electricity are being used to draw the water. They say the motor was not switched off even after the electricity department was informed. Complaints have been made to the officials concerned, including the Janpad CEO of Tirla, the tehsildar, the patwari, the Janpad CEO of Dhar, the SDM of Dhar and the Tirla police station in-charge.

The villagers say that despite so many complaints the water is still being drawn and the departments responsible have taken no action so far. They have demanded an immediate ban on drawing water from the pond and action against those responsible.