Thursday, 03 March 2022 | PNS | Nainital
Taking cognisance of the beautification of Sukhatal lake and heavy construction work at the site, the Uttarakhand high court has directed the secretaries of PWD, Irrigation Department, Kumaon commissioner and Nainital district magistrate to clarify the situation by March 21. The direction was issued by the division bench comprising the acting chief justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and justice RC Khulbe.
According to the case details, Nainital resident GP Sah and others had written a letter to the high court chief justice. They had elicited focus on the heavy construction works at Sukhatal, stating that this would affect the natural water sources among other repercussions. Sah and others had further stated in their letter that Sukhatal is the main recharging source for the Naini lake but constructions are being undertaken in an unscientific manner at that very place. Some people had already encroached upon the area of the Sukhatal lake and built cemented constructions. These people and the encroachments have not yet been removed by the authorities. The water sources of this lake had dried out in the past which has also affected the Naini lake. Many poor families which do not have water connections now depend on one last remaining water source and if that too dries out they will face a major problem in trying to secure water. Considering these factors, the heavy construction works at Sukhatal should be stopped, they had stated in their letter. They also stated that they had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Kumaon commissioner and the Nainital district magistrate regarding this issue but no action had been taken by the authorities. Taking cognisance of this letter, the acting chief justice registered it for hearing in the form of a Public Interest Litigation.
