Uttarakhand: Nainital High Court bans beautification works of Sukhatal lake

The Uttarakhand high court has banned all construction activities in the dry area around the Sukhatal lake, a rain-fed water body that recharges the Naini lake. A division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice R.C. Khulbe imposed the ban while hearing suo motu a PIL against the beautification and rejuvenation work going on around Sukhatal.

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Why Uttarakhand high court ban beautification works of Sukhatal lake?

• The State Environment Impact Authority and the State Wetland Management Authority have also been made parties and notices have been issued to them in this regard.
• During the hearing, amicus curiae (friend of the court) Kartikeya Hari Gupta told the court citing hydrological studies that the Sukhatal lake recharges the Naini lake up to 40% and 50%.
• IIT-Roorkee did conduct a study but the institute does not have the expertise to determine the environmental impact of the constructions around the lake.
• Nainital resident G.P. Sah and others had written a letter to the chief justice of the high court, saying the ongoing beautification of the lake will lead to a closure of its natural water source.
• Sukhatal recharges the Naini lake and construction activities are being carried out around the water body in an unscientific manner, they had contended. The court has fixed December 20 for the next hearing in the case.

• Uttarakhand Governor: Gurmit Singh;
• Uttarakhand Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami;
• Uttarakhand Capitals: Dehradun (Winter), Gairsain (Summer).

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