welfareLarge scale illegal construction by land mafia on the banks of : Valdhuni River In Ulhas Nagar Activists and local residents complain that this has been the main reason for floods during heavy rains over the past few years.
After torrential, treble rains on Wednesday, the Waldhuni river crossed the danger mark and inundated nearly 2,000 houses in Ambernath-Ulhasnagar and Kalyan. The most affected areas were Shanti Nagar, Karotiya Nagar, Near CHM College, Waldhuni and Shivaji Nagar. Residents spent the night at schools, community halls or with relatives. In some places, power supply could be restored after 18 hours.
In 2014, the NGO Vanshakti moved the Bombay High Court against the massive ongoing case Encroachment on the banks of Valdhuni river Which causes flood. “The matter will come up for hearing in August,” said Vanashakti director D Stalin. “We will prepare a fresh report and submit it to the HC. We will urge it to take up the issue on priority.”
Activist Shashikant Dayma said they have been raising the issue for years, but their pleas have been ignored by authorities, including the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation. “After the 2005 floods, the state government had constituted a committee to save the Waldhuni river. The authorities have spent Rs 500 crore to set up three sewage treatment plants and are laying a 17.5 km pipeline from Badlapur MIDC to Kalyan Creek to discharge the treated chemical water. However, the authorities have not taken any action against encroachments along the river,” he said.
Meanwhile, people living on the banks of Ulhas river in Hendrepada and Vadavali areas of Badlapur returned to their homes on Thursday. After heavy rains in the morning, the Raita bridge built on the Ulhas river on National Highway 61 remained submerged for two hours.
After torrential, treble rains on Wednesday, the Waldhuni river crossed the danger mark and inundated nearly 2,000 houses in Ambernath-Ulhasnagar and Kalyan. The most affected areas were Shanti Nagar, Karotiya Nagar, Near CHM College, Waldhuni and Shivaji Nagar. Residents spent the night at schools, community halls or with relatives. In some places, power supply could be restored after 18 hours.
In 2014, the NGO Vanshakti moved the Bombay High Court against the massive ongoing case Encroachment on the banks of Valdhuni river Which causes flood. “The matter will come up for hearing in August,” said Vanashakti director D Stalin. “We will prepare a fresh report and submit it to the HC. We will urge it to take up the issue on priority.”
Activist Shashikant Dayma said they have been raising the issue for years, but their pleas have been ignored by authorities, including the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation. “After the 2005 floods, the state government had constituted a committee to save the Waldhuni river. The authorities have spent Rs 500 crore to set up three sewage treatment plants and are laying a 17.5 km pipeline from Badlapur MIDC to Kalyan Creek to discharge the treated chemical water. However, the authorities have not taken any action against encroachments along the river,” he said.
Meanwhile, people living on the banks of Ulhas river in Hendrepada and Vadavali areas of Badlapur returned to their homes on Thursday. After heavy rains in the morning, the Raita bridge built on the Ulhas river on National Highway 61 remained submerged for two hours.