Motijheel, a natural lake in Motihari town. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, June 2: Rampant encroachment on the outer periphery of Motijheel is threatening to gobble up the lifeline of the picturesque lake town that draws its name from the age-old waterbody.

Encroachers have been getting bolder by the day, gradually closing in on the lake, which bisects the town into east and west by forming a natural partition, by filling it up from all sides and shrinking its size drastically.

Proceedings were initiated against the illegal encroachers on several occasions but for reasons best known to the administration or men in power, the drives were abandoned midway every time, which further helped embolden the squatters to encroach upon fresh ground.

A large number of buildings on the banks of Motijheel stand on encroached land. The size of Motijheel, which was originally spread across 390 acres, has been drastically reduced.

The plight of the waterbody has failed to draw the attention of neither the administration nor the elected public representatives so far.

Growing encroachment has forced the pollution level in the lake assume alarming proportions over the years. The lake, which was once renowned for pisciculture, is now hardly used for any practical purposes by the city dwellers.

All buildings standing along the banks of the lake discharge their sewage and toilet water in Motijheel. The waterbody is overrun by water hyacinths and various other species of wild plants.

Additional collector Hari Shankar Singh claimed action against the encroachers is a serious challenge before the district administration.

“The district administration has been particularly conscious about Motijheel and the Motihari circle officer has been specially directed to accelerate the drive against encroachers,” he said.

Admitting that encroachment was the reason behind the shrinking size of the lake, Singh told The Telegraph: “We had launched a drive against the encroachment a few months earlier. However, it had to be stopped midway once the panchayat elections were announced in the state and the model code of conduct came into force.

“It would be further taken up shortly,” assured Singh, but could not mention the particular date for resuming the anti-encroachment drive or whether it would be completed this time or again be abandoned midway as o the previous occasions.

“The Nagar Parishad has a specific plan for the beautification project of this natural lake, which has been an object of special charm for the visitors here,” said the chairman, Prakash Asthana, when asked about any proposed plan of the government regarding beautifying Motijheel.

He said: “In repeated letters, the Motihari Nagar Parishad has asked the state tourism department for its intervention in the matter so that the lake could be given a facelift, which could also prove to be a good revenue earner for the state exchequer.”

The deputy chief minister, Sushil Kumar Modi, had also announced a renovation plan for this natural lake at a public meeting held here in 2009 for which initial formalities were also completed.

However, the same remains to be translated into action even after the elapse of two years.

The former district magistrate, Narmadeshwar Lal, had vigorously started the survey work of the lake and also initiated steps for removal of encroachments.

Altogether 150 persons were held guilty during the survey for encroaching upon almost 20 per cent of the lake, which is spread across 390 acres in this town.

However, with the transfer of the district magistrate, a fund of Rs 3 crore for the l ake’s beautification project has been gathering dust and the anti-encroachment drive has been shelved.