Gaya: RTI activist Brijnandan Pathak will petition principal secretary, urban development department, for restoration of a water body known as Dighi Talab by getting the Magadh divisional commissioner's office demolished.

This comes after his petition for restoration of the water body was rejected recently. Pathak's contention is based on a Supreme Court order directing state governments to restore water bodies for environmental protection and water conservation. Water bodies in Gaya are believed to be the main source of ground water recharge. Pathak had earlier petitioned the commissioner, seeking his office's demolition on two counts. The office was built in violation of building laws that mandate map approval by the municipal corporation; it was built on what used to be a water body and the apex court has ordered restoration of all extinct water bodies.

To support his claim that the place used to be a water body, Pathak submitted a copy of the 1914 cadastral survey record. Pathak filed the petition under provisions of the Grievance Redressal Act 2015. On April 3, Magadh divisional commissioner Jitendra Srivastav had rejected the petition on technical grounds. Nowhere in the order, does it say that the map was duly approved. It simply said that the Public Grievances Redressal Act 2015 did not empower him to sit in judgment on building law violation cases. The matter fell into the municipal commissioner's domain and the order advised the petitioner to approach the proper forum (read municipal commissioner) for relief (office demolition), said the commissioner's order.

Without denying the existence of a water body called Dighi Talab at the place where the office is located, the order referred to the SDO's report that in 1914 said the property belonged to "Qaiser e Hind" (Emperor of India) before being vested with Bihar.

As per records, the commissioner's office was built about two decades back on a 1.06-acre plot. Besides the commissioner's office, the office of the Magadh Range DIG and City DSP are located on the same premises. According to Pathak, he would be seeking legal opinion on his next course of action.

Confirming his decision to approach the principal secretary, urban development department, Pathak said that if need be, he would file an PIL in Patna High Court seeking restoration of the now non-existent water bodies.