Jhansi: District magistrate Gaurang Rathi on Friday constituted a committee to oversee the conservation and rejuvenation of the Pahuj river and reviewed compliance with directives issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) earlier, during a meeting held at the Collectorate’s Gandhi auditorium.The meeting focused on measures to keep the river free from encroachments, ensure year-round water flow and preserve the ecological balance of the river system. Officials discussed the river’s catchment area, water storage capacity and the quantity of water being supplied to the railways.Rathi directed the formation of a multi-departmental committee to prepare a time-bound action plan and monitor its implementation. The committee will comprise the Municipal Commissioner as secretary and the Additional District Magistrate (Namami Gange) as co-secretary, while coordinating efforts among various departments to ensure full compliance with NGT directions.Emphasising strict protection of river land, the district magistrate ordered officials to prevent any fresh encroachments and take action against existing illegal occupations in accordance with the law. In a significant move aimed at protecting the river corridor, Rathi directed the Jhansi Development Authority (JDA) not to approve residential building plans in the river zone and other notified restricted areas in the future. He asked officials to take all necessary regulatory measures to enforce the restriction.Earlier in May 25, the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, took serious cognisance of alleged illegal construction, encroachment, pollution, and obstruction of natural water channels in the Pahuj River which runs both through MP and UP and is considered the lifeline of Bundelkhand. Acting on a petition filed by local residents and environmental activists, the Tribunal has issued notices to the concerned authorities and sought their responses in the matter which will be heard on Aug 17.A case had been registered as Original Application (OA) No 323/2026 of an activist Narendra Kushwaha and was heard by a bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Dr Afroz Ahmad, expert member. The petitioner alleged that large-scale concrete construction work is being carried out illegally within the riverbed and floodplain areas along the river bank. The river has been facing other issues such as garbage and sewage dump polluting it severely while it has been considered as the lifeline of the region.
