Uttarakhand: Hearing in the matter of conservation of rivers and environment of Dehradun, orders to file case against encroachers
In Dehradun, three PILs filed regarding water streams, water sources, environmental protection, including the danger looming in the rivers and environmental protection were heard simultaneously in the Nainital High Court. Hearing all the cases together, the division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Alok Mehra has issued guidelines to the state government to protect the river and the environment.
Secretaries of these departments appeared in court through VC
On the previous order, today the Principal Forest Secretary of the State Government RK Sudhanshu, Secretary Urban Development Nitesh Jha and Secretary of Revenue Department R Rajesh Pandey appeared in the court through video conferencing. Secretary Forest informed the court that till now the previous orders have not been complied with due to some reasons.
Therefore, the concerned departments should be given four weeks’ time to comply with the previous orders of the court. Because, the last week of the financial year is going on. On which the court ordered them to submit the report within three weeks. Also, they were also asked to appear in the court through VC.
Orders to file case against encroachers and submit report
The court has asked the government to remove encroachments in rivers, drains and rivulets. CCTV cameras should be installed at that place. These should also be managed by installing CCTVs in the same way as accident prone areas on roads are managed. The court has asked the DGP to issue orders to the concerned SHO to file cases against encroachers and submit reports wherever such incidents take place.
These orders were given to the Secretary Urban Development
The court also asked the Secretary Urban Development to publish a message among the citizens of the state that encroachment, debris and mining should not be done in rivers, drains and rivulets. Due to which no accident occurs during the monsoon season. This should be widely publicized. Now the next hearing in this entire matter will be held on April 15.
Separate petitions have been filed in the Nainital High Court
Actually, Dehradun residents Ajay Narayan Sharma, Renu Pal and Urmila Thapar have filed separate PILs in the Nainital High Court. In which he has said that heavy construction work is being done in the submerged land of Sahastradhara in Dehradun. Due to which along with drying up of water sources, the environment is also being endangered.
While, in the second petition it has been said that there has been excessive encroachment and illegal construction on drains, khaals and dhaangs in Rishikesh. Apart from this, it has also been said in the petition that 100 acres of river land in Dehradun, 140 acres in Vikasnagar, 15 acres in Rishikesh, 15 acres in Doiwala have been encroached upon. Especially Bindal and Rispana rivers have been encroached upon.
