NGT bans use of plastics around Rewalsar Lake

Vijay Arora

Shimla, March 31

To restore the glory of the Rewalsar Lake in Mandi, the National Green Tribunal has imposed a ban on the use of plastics in and around the water body.

The NGT headed by its Chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar also prohibited the dumping of any municipal waste, particularly plastic waste, in and around the lake and the town.

To ensure that no further damage is caused to the lake and the environment, it also constituted a four-member high-level committee comprising the Secretary, Environment, Member Secretary, HP Pollution Control Board and Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health. It further directed the committee to inspect the area in question and submit a complete and comprehensive report suggesting the measures that should be taken by all authorities concerned to ensure the restoration of the Rewalsar Lake to its original status and preservation of the environment and ecology of the area.

The NGT passed the order on Monday while holding a circuit court in Shimla on a petition alleging that there was complete failure of the environmental protection mechanism in the area.

The NGT directed the state authorities and the municipal committee of Rewalsar to file their responses within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on May 12.