OVER the past two years, I have had the opportunity to meet with district magistrates (DMs) and chief development officers (CDOs) across 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh (UP), namely, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Bahraich, Gonda and Mau. These meetings often culminated in day-long workshops on river and wetlands rejuvenation, attended by a diverse array of line officers such as sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs), deputy collectors, block development officers (BDOs) and engineers.
Through these discussions and fieldwork, a striking issue surfaced repeatedly — the rampant encroachment on lands that belonged to rivers and water bodies. The scale and complexity of encroachment was massive. The land parcels adjacent to rivers and wetlands were being grabbed on a daily basis, often without attracting any public outcry or attention.
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