A Ranchi councillor, who alerted the state forest department about Jharkhand State Housing Board (JSHB) felling trees without permission for a project at Harmu Housing Colony, has also written to the municipal commissioner alleging that water and sanitation of the area would be severely hit if the board was allowed to go ahead with its project.

"The sewage and drainage system of the colony, which was developed during 1960-65 by JSHB, has almost collapsed. Drinking water and sanitation department has not made any arrangement for supply of water in the houses existing in the locality. In case of sudden rise in local population, there will be problem of drinking water and sanitation," Arun Kumar Jha (ward 37) said in his letter delivered to municipal commissioner Prashant Kumar on Tuesday.

Jha maintained that the housing board had to be stopped from constructing multi-storied buildings in places demarcated as open space in the layout plan as such buildings would upset the local ecological balance and put a sever strain on the already strained drinking water and sanitation facilities of the locality.

The councillor, who has also sent a copy of his letter to urban development minister C.P. Singh, maintained he was only doing his duty as civic representative and alerting the corporation which was supposed to maintain the colony developed by the board.

He said, "I have tried to give a clear picture before the municipal commissioner. Majority of people in the locality have made personal arrangements of water by digging borehole of small diameter (4-inch). Similarly, people in the locality have also taken personal initiatives on sewage management.

"Plants in open spaces help recharging ground water. If multi-storied buildings are going to be built on open spaces instead of developing the parks, the entire colony will get converted into a concrete jungle."

Commissioner Kumar denied any knowledge about Jha's letter. " I know nothing about a councillor's letter," he said.

Asked whether he had received any application from the housing board for HYDT boring, he said, "Yes. But no decision for granting permission for HYDT boring has been taken by the RMC board."

Minister C.P. Singh could not be contacted for comment.