Once upon a time the Harmu river was a life line for the people of ranchi,especially those who lived on its bank.

Today it is reduced to a drain carrying sewage and filth.

A vast part of its banks between a 12 km stretch between Chutia and Harmu were encroached by builders and hoteliers with the result that the river was dead and a drain carrying sewage and drains of apartments,hotels,market complexes and houses,had sprung up.

A group of environmentalists had raised their voice over the death of this river and in their bid to en liven it,sought removal of encroachment from its embankments.But nothing happened.

Now,responding to a PIL,Jharkhand High Court today ordered issuance of a notice on the Ranchi Municipal Corporation and other concerned departments in connection with the drain water flowing into the Harmu river.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Chandra Tatia and Justice Jaya Roy ordered that notices be served on the RMC and other respondents asking them to explain if it is true that drain water was flowing into the river and, if so, what steps were being taken to clean it.

The PIL,filed by a social activist Lalan Kumar Sharma,quoted the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board’s report stating that the water of the Harmu river was not fit for even bathing because the filthy water flows into it.

The RMC and other respondents in the case were asked to submit their replies in the form of counter affidavits by April 11.