KARNAMEPUR SHIV TEMPLE POND BECOMES GARBAGE DUMPING GROUND

KARNAMEPUR SHIV TEMPLE POND BECOMES GARBAGE DUMPING GROUND

8-JULY-ENG 28

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------The pond of Shiv Mandir in Karnamepur market located in Shahpur block of Bhojpur district has now become an undeclared garbage dumping ground. The water of the pond has become poisonous due to the dissolving of garbage, due to which its existence is in danger.

With the increasing modernization of the market, the western and northern banks of the pond have been filled and illegal shops have been built on it, from which influential people are collecting thousands of rupees every month. The pond was measured and cleaned several times, but the garbage coming out of the market is being continuously thrown into the pond by shopkeepers and local people. The situation is so bad that it has become difficult to even set foot in the water of the pond.

About two decades ago, this pond was green and people used to bathe in its clean water and perform Jalabhishek in the nearby Shiva temple. But due to encroachment, its size kept shrinking.

The villagers have agitated several times to free the pond from encroachment and have also staged protests by forming a committee. The pond was also measured by the officials, but despite this the encroachment could not be removed. Local people allege that there is collusion between the local strongmen and the administration, because despite such a big movement and continuous correspondence, no action was taken.

It is said that the original area of ​​the pond was about seven kattha, which has now been reduced to five kattha. The former MP had constructed Chhath Ghat on the banks of the pond. Senior BJP leader and Sangh Pracharak Shambhu Sharan Mishra said that on March 8, the foundation stone for the beautification of the pond was laid by the then MP Rajkumar Singh at a cost of about Rs 80 lakh, but this plan has also not been completed till now.

A movement was also carried out to save the pond. Measurement was also done, but the officials became silent. Here encroachment by strong people is also continuing. Dinesh Mishra, Karnamepur

A campaign was launched to free the pond from encroachment. We received threats for this many times. Above all, the officials do not listen. The file became thick by applying. Sunil Mishra, Karnamepur

The officials should make meaningful efforts to free this pond from encroachment. Otherwise, slowly the existence of the pond will end. Thakur Dayal Ram, Karnamepur

The angry villagers said, will the local administration pay attention to this serious problem and take any concrete steps to bring the pond back to its old form?