Police trying to remove the protesters near Mansha Devi Gate. area residents
Jagran Correspondent, Rishikesh: The police administration could not foresee that the survey, which started about 65 hours ago, would turn into such a ruckus. Forest department, revenue and police teams started reaching the survey area at 6 am on Friday morning. The pace of protest remained limited on the first day. The highway remained blocked for hours the next day. The third team again reached for survey and everything from road to railway track was disrupted. Police from three districts had to take out a flag march in the pilgrim town, which was considered peaceful.
The outer area of Rishikesh Municipal Corporation is situated on forest land. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court in the matter. The Supreme Court made strong remarks regarding the encroachment of forest land. Also gave necessary instructions to the Uttarakhand government regarding the vacant land in this area. According to the officers, the report has to be filed in the Supreme Court by January 5.
The survey process started from Friday. In protest, people came out in the streets with bats and started protesting against the survey. On the first day of the survey, the pace of protest was slow, but the anger was at its peak. The fear began to deepen among the people that even those who had houses would be destroyed.
According to preliminary estimates, a population of about one lakh will be affected. Amidst the visits of opposition leaders, their statements on the internet media, and claims of taking the people's voice to power, the public's anger kept burning internally.
Many incomplete information also kept circulating in the matter. As soon as the highway was blocked on Saturday, there was a possibility of the dispute escalating, but the police administration could not anticipate this.
Since Sunday was a holiday, there would be no survey of people. When the teams arrived again, this time the protest became more intense than the first two days. Not only was the road blocked, but the railway track was also disrupted. By evening the situation reached the level of stone pelting and lathi charge. Police forces had to be called from Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri and Pauri districts. Late in the evening, the police had to maintain law and order by taking out a flag march in the presence of senior police officers.
Survey going on in these areas
On the orders of the Supreme Court, Forest Department teams are measuring the vacant forest land in wards like Miranagar, Shivaji Nagar, Barrage Marg, Bees Bigha, Bapu Gram, Suman Vihar, Amit Gram East and West, Malviya Nagar etc. After measuring, Forest Department teams are also installing department boards. In many areas, people have also uprooted and thrown away the boards installed by the Forest Department.
‘The survey work is being done on the orders of the Supreme Court. The survey is almost complete. Brainstorming is going on as to what will be the situation regarding the survey from today.
Yogesh Singh Mehra, Sub-District Magistrate Rishikesh.
Also read- Protest against forest land survey in Rishikesh, people blocked the railway track, police used batons after stone pelting.
Also read- Strong protest against forest land survey in Rishikesh, people blocked the road for hours