Aghast over the inaction of authorities concerned regarding illegal operation of a borewell that led to drying up of historic Devak heritage site, local residents of Jindrah Panchayat today constituted a Devak Bachao Andolan Samiti (DBAS) and warned the government of intensifying their agitation if Jal Shakti department fails to act against the violators.
The Samiti also lodged a formal complaint with Naib Tehsildar Jindrah seeking immediate necessary action against the violators and remedial measures to restore the pristine glory of the Devak.
The Samiti members alleged that Joginder Kumar, son of Shanker Dass, had illegally dug a borewell adjacent to land belonging to the Shiv Mandir and was illegally selling water through tankers, causing significant harm to the Devak, a site where thousands of Lord Shiva devotees gather monthly.
“All natural Bowlis (springs) have dried up while heritage site Devak is losing its religious significance because of non-availability of water in these Bowlis. We made several complaints to Jal Shakti department, J&K government’s Grievance Cell and other authorities but they failed to act on our complaints. The violator continues to hurt the sanctity of this religious site with impunity while authorities have turned mute spectator amid growing resentment among the people,” the members said.
They questioned whether Jal Shakti department officials were having any hand-in-glove with the violator who was selling water through tankers at exorbitant rates from the land belonging to Shiv Mandir.
“We want to vehemently convey it to the authorities that if they fail to act against the violator and initiate immediate corrective measures to protect the heritage site within a week, we will be forced to launch a strong agitation. This is a matter of our religious faith and sanctity of the place. The government will have to step in to protect this significant religious site,” they said.
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