Unsatisfied with DM’s report, HC tells Govt to submit clear reply on Baliynala landslide
Tuesday, 10 October 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court heard the public interest litigation filed regarding the landslide at Baliyanala area of Nainital. The division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Rakesh Thapliyal expressed its dissatisfaction at the report submitted by the Nainital district magistrate. The court has directed the State government to submit a clear answer in the matter. The court further directed that an expert from the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun who has knowledge of the subject should be sent to guide the court in this matter. The matter will be taken up for hearing next on October 17.
It is pertinent to matter here that in the past the High Court had directed the Nainital district magistrate to submit a detailed report on the current status of the landslide affected area in Baliyanala and the works done so far for the treatment of the affected area. On Monday, the court was not satisfied with the report submitted by the district administration. Considering this to be a serious matter, the court has directed the State government to submit a clear reply. During the hearing, the petitioner told the court that the State government is displaying carelessness in this case. Ministers and officials have visited the landslide affected area of Baliyanala on various occasions but no concrete steps have been taken to effectively address the problem of landslide in the area, the petitioner contended.
Nainital resident advocate Saiyad Nadeem Moon had filed the PIL in 2018 stating that Baliyanala is called the base of Nainital and that landslide occurring here may pose a major threat to Nainital and nearby areas. Concrete and effective steps should be taken to check the landslide and save the existence and people of Nainital, said the petitioner.
