HC appoints commissioner to survey Sukhna’s catchment

Chandigarh, November 22

Taking a serious view of alleged illegal construction activity in Sukhna Lake’s catchment area, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday appointed advocate Vikas Suri as local commissioner. He was asked to submit a report after carrying out a survey of the area.

The Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul passed the orders after amicus curiae or the friend of the court, ML Sarin, placed photographs showing construction activity in the catchment area in violation of the High Court orders.

Appearing before the Bench, amicus curiae Tanu Bedi had, on the previous date of hearing, pointed out that further construction in the catchment area of Sukhna Lake was stayed by the court vide order dated May 14, 2012.

After hearing the counsel for the parties and the amicus curiae, the Bench had directed Punjab to ensure strict compliance of the 2012 order. “In other words, no further construction shall be allowed to be raised in the catchment area,” the Bench had added.

The rain-fed lake at the foothills of the Himalayas was created way back in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills.

In its order dated March 14, 2011, the High Court had issued directions for restoring the lake and its former glory.

The Division Bench of the High Court in May 2012 had directed Punjab and Haryana, along with the UT Administration, to not just stop construction activity in the catchment area of the lake, but also demolish without notice any construction being carried out against the High Court mandate.

The High Court has already been told that treated water will keep the levels up in Sukhna Lake. The Chandigarh Administration, during the course of hearing, informed the Bench that the STP in Kishangarh village was expected to begin a trial run nine months from the opening of tenders in mid-May. — TNS