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Waterman seeks support of Raje Govt.

Special Correspondent

Rebuilding of structures demolished by the Alwar district administration at Jat Malihar village

JAIPUR: Waterman Rajendra Singh has asked Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to extend the Government's support to help re-build the structures demolished by the district administration at Jat Malihar village in Tijara tehsil of Alwar district in July after terming them as "illegal construction" on government land.

The Government action was unwarranted and unjustified as there was no encroachment involved, he said.

"The structures were meant for the local community which had invited Tarun Bharat Sangh in 1998 to start a center there and help the people to build water bodies. Government action has hurt the interests of the poor people in the area," Mr.Singh, who wrote to Ms.Raje in this connection on Thursday, said talking to media persons here.

"TBS has been working in unison with local communities in Alwar district for the past 22 years. We have never encroached upon even an inch land. On the other hand, the water structures we build and hand over to the villagers are worth crores," Mr.Singh, Magsaysay winner for his work in water harvesting, said defending his NGO.

"Apart from building water harvesting structures we also teach people how to use water optimally by adopting traditional methods. We have so far built 4000 water structures in Rajasthan with the help of local communities who voluntarily had come forward offering their support. Besides, TBS has built 12 school buildings, modernized 14 and helped another eight with furniture, toilets, hand pumps, boundary wall and logistics for tree plantation," Mr.Singh pointed out in his letter.

The missive from Mr.Singh, a member of the recently set up Central Groundwater Advisory Council-- along with Anna Hazare, M.S.Swaminathan and Sunita Narain-- is after the TBS's resolve to fight back the Government's "unilateral action", said to be influenced by the lobby of liquor manufacturers. TBS is contemplating to approach the courts in this connection and simultaneously launch a Satyagraha, he informed.

A team led by the Sub Divisional Officer of Tijara demolished the TBS centre on July 13. The action was carried out in the absence of Mr.Singh or other senior functionaries of TBS and, allegedly without serving any notice.

The Naib tehsilar of Tijara had served a notice on May 19 last to TBS on the use of 25 bighas of land.

TBS had formally responded to the notice but the administration chose to wipe out the structures with the help of JBCs. The trees planted by TBS were left intact.

"The land belongs to the Gram Sabha and it was the Gram Sabha which had handed over 25 bighas of land to TBS after giving it in writing. The administration should acknowledge its mistake and help to rebuild the structures," Mr.Singhpointed out.

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