Kolar, 26 Jan

Undeterred by bureaucratic delays, Nalini Gowda, President of the Kolar district Ryot Sangha, has successfully safeguarded a 91-acre village tank in Abbani, Kolar taluk, after a protracted legal and administrative struggle.

The tank, spread across Survey No. 79, had been fully encroached upon, with some occupants even obtaining pahani and revenue records for the occupied land. Alarmed by the potential loss of a vital water source, Gowda pursued the issue for nearly seven years, filing repeated petitions with the village accountant, Deputy Commissioner, Revenue Commissioner, and the concerned minister.

When official responses failed, she escalated the matter to higher authorities and filed a case before the Assistant Commissioner’s Court in Kolar. Following multiple hearings and examination of records, the Assistant Commissioner ordered the eviction of all encroachments and directed the tehsildar to submit a compliance report.

Acting on the orders, Revenue Inspector Naresh, Panchayat Development Officer Shashikala, and survey officials cleared the entire 91 acres and six guntas of encroached land.

Gowda said the tank would be developed using MGNREGA funds, with rainwater harvesting to improve the water table.

“All water bodies must be saved to protect farmers’ interests. Rejuvenated tanks will help address the acute water scarcity facing the district,” she added.