JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN – In a significant move to restore the ecological integrity of the Dravyavati River, the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and local administration launched a large-scale anti-encroachment drive in the Ambabadi area. The operation, carried out under tight security, aimed to reclaim government land and river catchment areas that had been illegally occupied for years.
The Operation
Early Tuesday morning, a team of JDA officials, supported by a heavy police contingent, arrived at the Ambabadi stretch of the Dravyavati River with multiple bulldozers and JCB machines. The drive targeted several illegal structures, including permanent boundary walls, temporary sheds, and commercial extensions that had encroached upon the river’s flow area. Despite minor protests from local residents and occupants, the authorities proceeded with the demolition, citing the primary need to protect the riverfront project.
Legal Mandate
The action follows stern directives from the High Court, which has been closely monitoring the Dravyavati River Rejuvenation Project. The court has repeatedly expressed concern over the shrinking width of the river due to brazen encroachments, which not only hamper the beautification project but also pose a severe risk of urban flooding during the monsoon season.
A senior JDA official at the site stated, “We had issued multiple notices to the violators over the past few months. These structures were built in direct violation of the catchment area laws. Today’s action is a clear message that no encroachment on the riverbed will be tolerated.”
The Dravyavati Project at Stake
The Dravyavati River, once a major seasonal waterway, had turned into a sewage-carrying ‘nallah’ over decades. The multi-crore rejuvenation project was launched to transform it into a clean riverfront. However, constant encroachment in areas like Ambabadi and Shastri Nagar has been a major roadblock.
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Environmentalists have welcomed the move, noting that clearing the riverbed is essential for the natural recharge of groundwater and maintaining the local ecosystem. The JDA has announced that following the demolition, the reclaimed land will be fenced off immediately, and regular patrolling will be conducted to ensure that the encroachers do not return.
The administration has also warned other illegal occupants along the 47-km stretch of the river to voluntarily remove their structures or face similar forceful evictions and legal penalties.
