The Uttarakhand High Court came down heavily on the state government for not complying with its order regarding the encroachment of waterbodies in Dehradun. As a response, the court issued fresh guidelines for actions against encroachment on Monday. The court heard 3 PILs that flagged encroachment on water bodies and rivulets in Rajpur, Doon Valley.
What Petitioners Say
A petitioner sought from the High Court that the state declare the catchment areas of drains of Rispana and Bindal rivers as a ‘no construction zone’. Recently, environmentalists and local residents have strongly opposed the Rispara and Bindal River elevated Road Project, warning that it can dry up the river bodies. The construction project involves constructing two elevated roads to ease traffic congestion in Dehradun. A combined length of approximately 26 km is to be laid down at an estimated cost of over Rs.6000 crore. This project can prove to be detrimental to the life of the rivers.
While another petitioner flagged private encroachment on regulated and seasonal streams in Sahastradhara.
The court also questioned the municipal Commissioner of Dehradun on the delay in submitting a compliance report regarding encroachment on water bodies, mandated by the court in one of its earlier orders. Addressing the municipal commissioner, the Chief Justice said, “Are you to be reminded that you need to be complying with the orders of the court? Do you realise the consequences?”
