Why was Sukhna floodgates leak not plugged,High Court asks Centre

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning amelioration of Sukhna Lake. Amicus curiae Tanu Bedi raised eyebrows over the affidavit filed by the Haryana government.

Bedi objected to filing of affidavit by the deputy conservator of forests. She contended that as per directions of the High Court,the competent authority to file a response in the case was director,town and country planning,Haryana.

Bedi brought to the notice of the court the contents of the affidavit in which the state had submitted that “there is no existing future plan” with regard to construction in the catchment area.

The affidavit was filed in response to a High Court’s query put across on the last date of hearing. The court had directed the Haryana government to file its response to news items that had raised apprehension of threat to catchment area with private developers like DLF about to receive licence for construction.

Showing conviction in the averment,the bench has directed the director,town and country planning,to file its response.

The Administration was directed to file affidavit with regard to the measures taken to tackle the problem of silting Sukhna Lake,besides the persistent problem of leakage of flood gates at the regulator end of Sukhna Lake.

“As a long time permanent solution to the problem,the engineering department has engaged the services of technical experts from BBMB,Nangal,and got the repair of the flood gates done in 2009 on payment basis. On noticing the leakage of water through the flood gates,the department has again taken up the matter with the BBMB,requesting it to depute a team of experts to take appropriate measures. However,the BBMB authorities vide communication dated February 4 have refused to carry out the job,stating that now they do not have any expert/erection staff to carry out the repair/maintenance of radical gates,” reads the affidavit.

The Administration has further submitted that “the engineering department of Chandigarh Administration has planned to carry out the repair work of special rubber scale of radical flood gates through specialised expert agency by outsourcing the work and get the very minor leakage of flood gates set right before the onset of monsoon”.