HC stays constructions in Sukhna catchment area

In a significant direction,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed any kind of construction in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake falling in Punjab and Haryana.

Major blow to housing colonies that were being proposed by private developers

In a significant direction,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed any kind of construction in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake falling in Punjab and Haryana. With an endeavour to protect the Lake from further deterioration,a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih passed the directions during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the Lake. The direction comes as a big blow to private developers who have projects lined up,parts of which fall in the catchment area.

Meanwhile,the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) took a dig at the Chandigarh Administration for completely abandoning the floodgates,resulting in their leakage. Appearing on behalf of BBMB,Advocate Onkar Singh Batalvi vehemently contended that the Chandigarh Administration has been utterly negligent towards the issue of leakage in floodgates.

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On the last date of hearing,the High Court had asked BBMB to clarify why it had refused to rectify the problem,as claimed by the Chandigarh Administration. Citing staff shortage as the reason,Batalvi said that though BBMBs cardinal job is to look after the Bhakra,it will make an endeavour to plug the leakage.

The High Court has asked the Chandigarh Administration to supply the drawings and other necessary material for plugging of the leakage of floodgates in Sukhna Lake.

Amicus curiae in the case,Advocate Tanu Bedi lashed out at the Chandigarh Administration for its casual approach towards the lake and for failing to keep a check on the increasing rate of urbanisation in the catchment area. She contended that if the urbanisation trend is not checked at this stage,the Lake will die.

Tanu averred that the Chandigarh Administration has ample funds to waste on construction of pavements and for other purposes but cannot spare funds for the preservation of the Lake. Appearing on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration,its senior standing counsel Advocate Sanjay Kaushal contended that after de-silting,the majority of problems of Sukhna Lake have been resolved.

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The Court has also asked the amicus and counsels involved in the case to suggest names of expert organisations or individuals who can help in the preservation of Sukhna Lake and expressed displeasure over the inadequate replies filed by the Haryana government in the case. On the last date of hearing the Haryana government was asked to explain whether the construction of housing colonies proposed by private developers are coming up in the catchment area.

The reply filed by the Haryana government was totally silent on the query raised.

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