Chandigarh: According to a recent report, out of the total number of 19702 ponds in Haryana state more than 3500 ponds have already lost their existence due to utter neglect by the government. A ray of hope is seen with ‘Amrit Sarovar Yozna’ introduced by the ruling state government. A preliminary information reveals that nearly 2598 ponds across the state have already been encroached where either unauthorized buildings have been constructed or unrecognized residential colonies have been developed and few cases are also under trial in the courts. According to a recent survey, more than 2278 ponds in Haryana state have gone dry, 11839 ponds are having contaminated water declared unfit for use and water in few ponds have even been declared harmful for the animals.
According to the official record as regard encroached ponds in the state include 393 pounds in Karnal district, 332 pounds in Kaithal district, 297 pounds in Jind district, 277 pounds in Mahendergarh district, 205 pounds in Fatehabad district,196 pounds in Hisar district, 160 pounds each in Rohtak and Faridabad districts and 142 pounds in Bhiwani district.
According to information collected from few important districts in the state, 739 pounds in 419 villages in Kurukshetra district have contaminated water, of these 311 ponds have water strictly declared unfit for use, which also include 216 ponds having water even harmful for the animals. There were 40 to 50 ponds situated inside old Rohtak town years ago where one can now find a number of residential colonies in the area over such encroached ponds. Similarly, out of the total number of nearly 900 pounds in Sirsa district as many as 160 ponds have completely disappeared, nearly 100 pounds have gone completely dry and anti-social elements have started encroachments in nearly 520 ponds. The residents of Sirsa also sent complaints to the District Development & Panchayat Officer regarding encroachments over ponds, but to no result except notices were sent to the encroachers.
A recent survey reveals that more than 1050 ponds situated in rural areas in Haryana state have disappeared or have no water in these ponds since the past few years, now awaiting action under ‘Amrit Sarovar Yozna’ to have life once again.
