Uttarakhand HC halts construction without map around Rispana and Bindal rivers, ET RealEstate
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Tuesday suspended construction activities around the Rispana and Bindal rivers without authorised maps. The directive came during a hearing on multiple public interest litigations (PILs) concerning encroachment and environmental degradation in riverine areas of Dehradun and surrounding regions.
A bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ashish Naithani deliberated petitions lodged by Dehradun residents Ajay Narayan Sharma, Reenu Paul, and Urmila Thapar. The court has sought documentation regarding map authorisations granted to two influential individuals in the Vikasnagar area, following adverse remarks reported by the sub-divisional magistrate against them.
During proceedings, the state govt elucidated that encroachments on river and stream territories in Dehradun will be eliminated by June 30. The court, upon examining certain documents, directed their translation in English and scheduled the next hearing for April 21. The court ordered the virtual presence of the principal secretary of forests, and the secretaries of irrigation, revenue, and urban development for the upcoming hearing.
The state govt furnished a response, indicating the installation of high mast illumination and CCTV near identified natural water sources of the Rispana and Bindal rivers. Additionally, an awareness campaign is set to be launched to deter debris disposal near water sources. Meanwhile, the municipal corporation informed the court that it had cleared over 1,000 hectares of encroached land in Dehradun, while contractors found disposing debris in the rivers would face prosecution. Advocate General SN Babulkar submitted an implementation report on behalf of the govt.
The bench also heard other PILs highlighting environmental concerns across the state. One petition claimed that large-scale construction on submerged land in Sahastradhara was threatening the water resource and the local environment. Another pointed to encroachment and unauthorised construction on rivers and slopes in Rishikesh. The petition cited encroachment of about 100 acres in Dehradun, 140 acres in Vikasnagar, 15 acres in Rishikesh, and 15 acres on river land in Doiwala.
