Ranchi, April 8: The district administration today began efforts to free Kanke dam, one of the three reservoirs of the capital, from illegal encroachments and land sharks.

Built in the 1950s and spread over 450 acres, the dam has over the years witnessed the mushrooming of unauthorised construction eating into its catchment area and has turned into a dumping ground for garbage.

The dam supplies water to over two lakh people in Kanke and its adjoining areas, who are staring at an acute water crisis following its shrinking size in the last couple of years.

Today, a team comprising SDO Bhor Singh Yadav, circle officers of Hehal, Kanke, local police and 100-odd jawans launched an anti-encroachment drive and pressed into action JCB machines.

The drive was carried out on the lanes leading to the dam from Kanke road amid heavy protests, especially by women.

"Tomorrow and the day after, we shall focus on the remaining sides," circle officer of Hehal Anil Kumar Singh said.

Singh said they had identified 170 establishments comprising households, shops and buildings that had illegally occupied over 40 acres of the dam. Today, around 35 constructions were demolished.

"The dam has become small over the years leading to water crisis, especially during the summer. Therefore, the administration has decided to evict squatters once and for all," Singh said.

According to him, the groundwork for removing encroachments had begun in 2015 but a few squatters had taken legal recourse. However, the court ruled against them a few months back. "So, we have begun our drive to reclaim the dam," he said.

"Where will we go?" shouted a lady threatening to pelt stones on the team if her two roomed semi-pucca house was razed. "Are you not human?" she asked.

"In no case encroachments on a water body can be tolerated," Singh said, adding that none had any formal land deed or genuine papers to claim their right on the land.