Chandrapur to set up flying squads in every revenue circle to curb illegal water drawal

The Chandrapur district administration has taken stringent steps to stop unauthorised drawal of water from water sources in the district. Collector Vasumana Pant has ordered that flying squads be set up immediately for every revenue circle. The administration has said that protecting drinking water is necessary because of the drought situation in the district.

Deficient rainfall has created drought conditions in the district. To ensure there is no shortage of drinking water in the coming period, the available water stock must be used sparingly and in a planned manner. Against this backdrop, a special inspection drive will be carried out against unauthorised water drawal from water sources. The departments concerned have been told to appoint flying squads immediately in their respective jurisdictions and begin work on the ground.

In the squad formed for each revenue circle, a branch engineer from the Water Resources Department, the Water Conservation Department or the Zilla Parishad will act as coordinator. The squad will also include a branch engineer of Mahavitaran, a circle officer of the Revenue Department and a police sub-inspector.

The squads will conduct regular as well as surprise inspections of reservoirs, dams, rivers, lakes, Kolhapur-type weirs, canals and other water sources. If a citizen complains of unauthorised water drawal, the spot will be inspected immediately. Motors, pumps, pipelines and other equipment used for unauthorised drawal will be verified and seized.

Clear instructions have also been issued on inspection reports. A report on the regular and surprise inspections, the unauthorised water drawal found and the action taken will have to be submitted to the Collector's office every Monday.

The district administration's highest priority in the drought situation is to protect the available water stock and ensure citizens get enough drinking water. Collector Vasumana Pant has therefore said that all departments concerned should act in coordination and effectively to stop unauthorised and unplanned water drawal. In the directions, the Collector also said care must be taken to ensure there is no delay in this work.