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Time of India

Anti-encroachment drive at Hinoo river

1 2 Ranchi: Once a lifeline flowing through Ranchi, the Hinoo river had, over the years, turned into little more than a drain, choked by waste and nearly 90% encroached. Today, however, it is witnessing a dramatic transformation. Following sustained orders from the Jharkhand high court , an extensive anti-encroachment drive is underway to restore the river to its original state. Since March, authorities have been deploying earth movers to clear illegal structures built along the river's path, from makeshift shanties to concrete houses. The drive is being jointly executed by the district administration and the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), with a clear mandate of reclaiming the riverbed and ensuring no structure obstructs its natural flow. The drive comes in response to a suo motu public interest litigation taken up by the HC, which had expressed serious concern over the rampant encroachment on rivers and other water bodies in Ranchi. According to officials, the Hinoo river is significantly shrinking its catchment area and flow capacity. "The high court's order came in August last year. We took immediate cognizance and served notices thrice to the encroachers. The drive is part of a larger mission to make all riverbeds and reservoirs in the city encroachment-free. The Hinoo river, which ultimately joins the Subarnarekha at Namkum, had almost disappeared. This is a step toward environmental revival ," said Ranchi SDM Utkarsh Kumar said on Tuesday. He also confirmed that demolitions near the river are being carried out under the framework of the Jharkhand Public Land Encroachment Act 2016 (JPLE Act), which empowers the administration to remove unauthorised constructions on public land. "Encroachments falling within the JPLE ambit are being lawfully removed," Kumar added. The operation is focused on the Bhusur stretch of the river. A demarcation exercise was completed earlier this year, laying the groundwork for removal efforts. Argora circle officer Suman Sourav said, "In 2014, there were 101 encroachers. By 2024, this had increased to 145. All are now being removed based on the high court's directions." Ambuj Singh, city manager at RMC, said, "We are actively supporting the drive to ensure coordination and proper implementation."