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Dehradun: In a shocking incident from Dehradun, a luxury resort operator has caused major damage to public infrastructure by illegally diverting the flow of a river.
The resort, operated by Sparsh Firm and Resort in the Khairi Man Singh area, allegedly changed the river's direction to protect its own property. This action led to the destruction of a 150-meter stretch of road during heavy rainfall earlier this week.
This act has incurred a Rs 6 crore loss to the govt
The estimated loss to the government is around Rs 6 crore, as per the initial assessment. The road, which is a key connection for local residents and tourists, was completely washed away by the diverted water. The issue came to light during an inspection by District Magistrate (DM) Savin Bansal, who visited the disaster-affected areas on Thursday. During his visit, he was visibly angry upon seeing the damage and the reason behind it.
Immediate action has been taken against the resort-owner
DM Bansal took immediate action and announced a high-level inquiry into the matter. He also gave a strong warning to those involved, saying, "There will be a price to pay for damaging government property." He has directed that the resort operator be held responsible and made to pay for the damages. In addition to this, the DM ordered an investigation into all illegal encroachments on riverbanks in the region. He directed that land which has been illegally occupied must be reclaimed immediately.
Many resorts and hotels from Sahasradhara to Maldevta and Sarkhet have been built by encroaching on river land
The illegal diversion was done in the Bandawali-Khairi Man Singh stretch, an area that has been under watch for increasing unregulated construction. Many resorts and hotels from Sahasradhara to Maldevta and Sarkhet have been built by encroaching on river land. These structures have not only harmed the environment but also increased the risk of natural disasters like floods and landslides.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has started emergency work to redirect the river back to its original path and prevent further road damage. However, the situation raises serious concerns about how such activities have gone unnoticed by the authorities for so long.
Natural flow of rivers is being altered by private businesses
Residents and environmental experts have raised alarms about how the natural flow of rivers is being altered by private businesses for personal gain, leading to large-scale disasters during monsoon seasons. The latest incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for strict monitoring and enforcement of land use laws in ecologically sensitive areas like Dehradun.
As the administration begins its inquiry and damage control, citizens hope that this incident will become a turning point in the fight against illegal construction and river encroachment in Uttarakhand.
