Gaya: The much-awaited anti-encroachment drive on the banks of the Falgu, earlier scheduled for Monday, was on Tuesday deferred a second time.

District magistrate Abhishekh Singh had deferred it by a day on Monday on account of the bandh. Gaya Sadar sub-divisional officer V.K. Jaiswal said the drive was being deferred a second time on account of "resource deficiency".

Asked if there weren't sufficient number of police personnel for effective eviction of unauthorised squatters from the river bed, the SDO said there were adequate number of police personnel but not enough manual workers. "There was also shortage of pay loaders for demolition and removal of debris," Jaiswal said.

The drive is aimed at execution of a high court order. Pratjnya, a citizen's group, had earlier filed a PIL in Patna High Court demanding removal of all encroachments from the Falgu river. The squatters have significantly narrowed the river's width and blocked some channels of water retention in what geologists believe was a bowl-like formation that stores water and facilitates sub-surface flow of water in the perennially dry river. On account of its sub-surface flow, the river is also known as Antah Saleela.

As per estimate, half a million town residents directly or indirectly depend on the Falgu for their water needs. Whereas, nearly 40 per cent of the 70,000 holdings registered with Gaya Municipal Corporation get Falgu water through municipal taps, the remaining population privately draw groundwater and the Falgu remains the main source to recharge Gaya's ground water.

A fresh schedule will soon be notified for the anti-encroachment drive, the SDO, said.

The drive will be undertaken in six police station areas of Gaya Sadar sub-division. The high court, while disposing of a PIL on the issue, had directed the district administration to remove encroachments. The petitioners are learnt to have served a legal notice threatening contempt of court proceedings if the encroachment was not removed.

After surveying the area, respective circle officers issued notices to about 1,500 alleged squatters for voluntary demolition. The notices went unheeded. According to officials, no less than six dozen cops including one dozen police women and an equal number of armed men, besides at least three magistrates were required for effecting the drive spread over nine days and six police stations. The encroachment, besides significantly narrowing the river's width has also blocked several channels of sub surface water storage.