Written by: Arushi Banal (Intern)
Edited by: Anubhav Yadav (Content Head & Developer)
The unbound flow of water in the river gulf has been impeded. The reason behind it is that Bajari is extracted from the river and when the extraction takes place, it generates a giant trough in the river belt which hinders the free flow of water and water gets collected in ditches. In Rajasthan High Court, a Division Bench of CJ Indrajit Mahanty and J. Vinit Kumar Mathur instructed the state to notify about the steps for mending the land which has been dug up during the functioning of the mines. Dams were created by the State for supplying water for agricultural use and animal husbandry as well as for irrigational activities; the court has observed this in different locations in Rajasthan.
The foremost purpose of the dam is not fulfilled. Mining has been taking place at the river midstream and huge splits have emerged. So because of this excavation, water gets perpetuated in channels and meets the dam. Water is being obstructed at many locations. One of the instances is of Ramgarh Dam, constructed by the State where Asian Championship was once held but today because of such blockage mentioned above, no water exists in that Dam. Accordingly, the state should take steps to avoid this problem which hinders the fresh flow of water and provide clean drinking water to its citizens.
The state was asked by the Rajasthan High Court to eliminate all the activities that trouble the natural flow of water. The plea was filed by the Kisan Vikas Sewa Samiti and heard by the bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur. They reported that Bajari Mines in Khatedari Land extract bajari from the river but they do not adjust anything to restore the land. The allegation was made that when bajari mining is completed, it produced big ditches in the river belt which prohibit the flow of water and then water gather in these ditches.
Due to this reason the State was directed to obtain directions and file an affidavit as to what steps were taken by the State to restore the land after mining. In addition, the State was also asked to file an affidavit as to what steps the State should put forward for taking precautions in such circumstances. Regrettably, the Court added that: “we find that since excavation have been taking place at the river beds and big crevices have been formed, due to such excavation, water gets retained in ditches and crevices and water does not even travel and reach the Dams which have been created by the State for the purpose as noted here-in-above.” So these are the observation made by the court.
As a result, the Court noted that the expenditure spent by the State for the establishment of all these Dams is a waste of money, if the natural flow of water hinders in any way.