The Haryana Congress has announced its intention to introduce a privilege motion against the ruling BJP government regarding alleged illegal land acquisition at Peer Bodhi Johad in Rohtak. The announcement was made in the presence of key party members, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and MLAs Bharat Bhushan Batra and Nirmal Singh.
The state government has denied the existence of a pond on the site, with Batra asserting, “The government claims to have no knowledge of the issue.” He further emphasized, “This land was taken by the Waqf Board over 125 years ago, with subsequent claims made by farmers. While the government denies the presence of a johad, it does exist, and a land mafia is attempting to fill it with soil and exert control over it. We believe the minister has misled the House, and we will proceed with a privilege motion against him.”
As the local MLA, Batra accused a faction of attempting to seize control of government land at the Peer Bodhi Reservoir. He also criticized the Waqf Board for its inaction against encroachments, stating, “Currently, the land is being filled with soil, paving the way for illegal plots. The Peer Bodhi land is a part of our city’s heritage, and immediate government action is required to reclaim it and halt further illegal activities. I will address this issue during the ongoing Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha.”
Batra further explained the historical significance of the site, revealing that 12 villages established the 32.5-acre waterbody to collect rainwater nearly 125 years ago for drought relief. Unfortunately, due to encroachments, the area has diminished to just 12 acres, though the waterbody itself remains intact. He noted that in 1991, the land was transferred to the Waqf Board because of the presence of a mazaar.
Highlighting the reservoir’s importance in managing floodwaters, Batra accused the Waqf Board of negligence and urged the state government to assume control of the land to safeguard the waterbody. He emphasized that it is unlawful to fill the reservoir.
Batra called for government action to preserve and develop the entire 32-acre reservoir and proposed addressing waterlogging issues around Chhotu Ram Chowk by developing the nearby pond into a rainwater storage reservoir.
The Congress party has criticized the government’s response, claiming Minister Mahipal Dhanda has misled the House, while Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated that an inquiry by the apex court would be conducted. Both Khattar and Dhanda maintained that the land in question is currently being utilized for agricultural purposes.
