Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Jun 8: Deputy commissioner Muddumohan along with revenue officials on Saturday June 7 visited a private resort at Hengavalli near Amasebail and conducted investigations regarding the alleged encroachment of land and river by the resort.

Despite pouring rains, the DC, paying little attention to the adverse weather conditions, chose to respond to people's appeals and visited places that are allegedly encroached. He grew furious at the sight of the encroached land and said that apart from illegally swallowing up government property, the encroachment had also resulted in destruction of natural resources and imbalance in the environment.

The free flow of the water was found to be obstructed with dumping of large loads of mud in the middle of the river, and illegal construction of a retaining wall and concrete bridge in a bid to divert the river's flow. The DC took action on the spot and ordered the revenue officials to book the resort under CRP section 133. The DC also took the officials of the revenue department and other departments concerned for negligence and dereclition of duty in allowing the resort to dump mud in the middle of the river over the last few years. Muddumohan also asked sub-divisional officer Yogishwar to conduct a probe and submit a report on this.

Addressing reporters later, the DC said it was astonishing to note that despite being aware of illegal river-diversion activities in the region, some of the officials have chosen to turn a blind eye to the issue. He said that an investigation would be conducted into inaction of the officials of the small irrigation and forest departments in the issue and a report would be submitted to the government. Suitable action would be taken against revenue officials too if they are found guilty of supporting the encroachment, he said.

"This case (of Hengavalli resort) should serve as lesson for those indulging in encroachment of government property. Immediate steps will be taken to stop such encroachment. Government land that is encroached would be seized and those found guilty will face criminal cases, and appropriate action will be taken against them as per law," he said.

The villagers, through local leaders Belve Vasanth Shetty and Shridhar Shetty, had appealed to the DC to look into the issue of encroachment. During the DC's visit, they urged him to take steps to stop encroachment at the earliest.

Zilla panchayat chief executive officer Kanakavalli, ZP joint secretary Pranesh, Kundapur tahsildar Gayatri Nayak and other officials were present.