A water body at Kumharpada-Kathagada Sahi which has turned into a dumpyard. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 8: Revenue commissioner (central division) Arabinda Padhee has ordered a probe by the district collector into alleged change in the character of water bodies in four areas of the city owing to either indiscriminate filling up or illegal construction.

Padhee had issued an order to this effect as chairman of the committee constituted by Orissa High Court to deal with protection, preservation and conservation of water bodies in the city and take decisions accordingly.

The collector would probe into complaints to verify whether there was illegal filling up of the water body at Pareswar Sahi near Jobra, Samanta Sahi-Gamhandia, Jhola Sahi and Rajabagicha by land mafia. The order issued on October 3 expected him to submit a report in a month.

“The inquiry is under way. I will submit my report when the committee meets in November,” said collector Girish S.N. He said a telephone tower, which had allegedly come up on the water body’s land at Rajabagicha, was also under the purview of his inquiry. He is expected to ensure withdrawal of permission, if granted for such construction, by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.