Gurdaspur, October 1
The hydraulic research centre located at Malikpur, near Pathankot, is threatened as PUDA and private land mafia are reportedly trying to take over its land. PUDA has staked claim to about 70 acres where it plans to develop a residential colony.

Ironically, the land falls under the green belt area. About three years ago, the Department of Forests under a Japan-aided project had converted the land into a green belt and thousands of acacia trees had been planted.

However, PUDA plans to take over the land and develop a colony there after felling the trees which do not fall under the felling rules of the Forest Department as these are only about three years old. The area is also environmentally sensitive since it adjoins the UBDC canal.

In a haste to take over the land, PUDA has allotted tenders for the demolition of a resthouse and the drinking water supply scheme of the institute. When The Tribune team visited the institute, the contractor was already demolishing the resthouse. PUDA has also erected a board for the sale of plots outside the resthouse building.

Employees of the institute alleged that if the drinking water scheme was demolished, those staying at the institute would face problem. They also threatened to move court in this regard.

The research centre was established in 1935. The models of most of the dams in the country have been tested here. The major hydel projects whose experimental models exist here include that of Bhakra Dam, Ranjit Sagar Dam, SYL canal system, Shahpur Kandi dam project and hydel projects on the Bhramaputra.

The officials of the institute said if some problems erupt in these projects, experimental study could still be conducted on the models to look for solutions. The institute was recognised internationally, too, as many power and irrigation projects of Iraq and other countries had been tested here, they said.

Sources told the decline of the institute started during the stint of the previous government. The institute is located in about 250 acres. Out of it, the mutation of 35 acres was not effected in the name of the government due to a dispute of ownership among owners and agriculturists occupying the land. Taking advantage of the lacunae, the local land mafia got about 35 acres of the institute land registered in their names from original owners who had received compensation for their land.

Instead of checking the land scam, the former SAD-BJP government transferred the remaining land of the institute in the name of PUDA. After resistance from the institute, only 35 acres, in which the old models are located, was left with the institute while the rest was transferred to PUDA.