Jharkhand High Court Takes Strict Note of Encroachment on Ranchi’s Three Major Dams, Warns of Future Water Crisis

Ranchi, Jharkhand: The Jharkhand High Court has expressed serious concern over encroachments in the areas surrounding Ranchi’s three major dams—Kanke, Dhurwa, and Getalsud—and directed the district administration to submit a detailed report.

Court Seeks Comprehensive Report

The court asked the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner, via affidavit, to clarify the total land acquired for these three dams, how much of it has been encroached upon, and what measures have been taken so far to remove the illegal settlements. The High Court also inquired whether surveys of the dams and their catchment areas have ever been conducted. Reports on compliance with earlier court orders were also requested from the Ranchi Municipal Corporation. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 26, 2026.

State Government Action Against Encroachments

During the hearing, advocate Shahbaz Akhtar, representing the state government, informed the court that continuous efforts are being made to remove encroachments along the banks of the Hinoo and Harmu rivers and in the Dhurwa dam area. He added that in some cases, removal could not proceed due to court-issued stay orders.

FIRs Filed Against Responsible Officials

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) informed the court that FIRs have been registered against officials involved in approving maps, issuing receipts, and allowing constructions on encroached land along the Dhurwa dam. Separate FIRs have also been filed by the ACB.

Massive Encroachments Pose Future Risk

Amicus curiae Indrajeet Sinha told the court that the catchment areas of Kanke, Dhurwa, and Getalsud dams have seen large-scale encroachments. He noted that despite several directions issued by the High Court in the past, effective action has yet to be taken. Sinha highlighted Kanke dam as the most critical, warning that extensive occupation of dam land could lead to a severe water crisis in the future.