VARANASI, July 8, 2013: Overlooking the illegal construction of concrete houses on the riverbed of Varuna has now put a burden on the government machinery to treat the natives of these areas as victims during every flood season. 

A classic example of basic contradiction in policy making and its implementation by the government can be seen in the form of a permanent settlement comprising more than 500 concrete houses near Purana Pul (Old bridge) within 100-150 metres of the Varuna river bed. 

As per the Varanasi master plan 2013, no construction can be done within 100 meter stretch on both the sides on the river bed while some norms were also prescribed in master plan-2011. However, by defying all these norms, the construction of these houses was done right before the eyes of the government machinery. 

District magistrate, Pranjal Yadav, who recently took the charge as vice chairman, Varanasi development authority (VDA) said, "This is for the first time that I am made aware of the situation and I will ensure that this kind of construction is stopped completely. I will also search the possibilities for making the riverbed free from encroachment and for rehabilitation of local residents by adjusting them in the projects like Kanshiram Shehri Garib Awas Yojana." 

More than 2,500 people, living in this settlement mainly belong to minority community and include daily wagers carrying below poverty line (BPL) cards. More than 200 small houses have been built on the riverbed in past 10 years and the practice gained momentum despite the ban, in last four years. 

In fact, Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) has played a catalytic role in the construction of these dwellings by dumping tonnes of garbage for land filling which facilitated the encroachers to occupy land for house construction within the banned limit of the riverbed. The price of this land, in so called forbidden area, has also shot up massively. 

When contacted municipal commissioner RP Singh, he denied that there has been any land filling done by the VMC through garbage dumping. He said, "No garbage has been dumped there by VMC and construction of houses in banned area is something that Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) has to take care of." 

On the grounds of this settlement being illegal, the residents here are devoid of all infrastructural facility like electricity, sewer lines and fresh drinking water but no steps have been taken to assess the flood situation, despite periodical surveys by VMC in the area. The residents are forced to live in extremely unhygienic conditions as mounds of garbage exist in the area with foul smell oozing out from opened sewer lines. 

"Within last fortnight all my three kids have fallen ill twice of dysentery and vomiting. Several other kids from other families are also suffering," said a local native, Shama Parveen. 

In every monsoon, more than 200 houses in the area get totally submerged in flood water and people have to live in make shift houses for a period of two-three months. Jalali Farooq, whose house gets submerged by the flood water every monsoon, said, "If our houses are illegal, then the agencies should not have allowed us to build it." 

Rising Ganga robs many of livelihood 

Floods in river Ganga is causing financial loss to those engaged on ghats as vendors and boatmen. Hundreds of vendors selling flowers and devotional articles on ghats shift a stair above everytime the river level rises. 

People with permanent shops across the ghats are worst-affected as flood has rendered them jobless. Sunil Kumar has not been able to enter his flower shop for the last six days. Half of his shop is submerged in swollen Ganga. "Though all devotional items were removed a day before the flood water entered the shop, I am sitting idle. People who earn their living on daily basis are worst affected," he said. 

Vinod Kumar, a boatman at Dashaswamedh ghat, said that unlike last years, they had stopped rowing small boats. According to him, the boats were not being plied for the last 10 days causing a loss of Rs 30,000 to the community. There are around 300 boatmen and 500 boat. "In the evening boatmen of Dasaswamedh Ghat earn money by offering seat on their boats to those watching Ganga Aarti," said Shiv, another boatman. 

Ajeet earns his living by clicking pictures of devotees and tourists on the ghats. He said, "Generally business is low in rainy reason owing to low tourist inflow. Though the number of domestic tourists has remained unchanged, they are keen to perform puja in Ganga and not in pictures owing to rush on the already submerged ghats. With flood water covering the ghats, more than 400 shops and makeshift stores have been rendered useless.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 8, 2013.