HC asks govt to ensure encroachment-free city water bodies
4 Nov 2013 3:05 AM IST
A division bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Manmohan, in an order earlier this week, asked the police to take back water bodies, if allotted, to the villagers during consolidation proceedings where no permanent structure had been constructed.
‘In our opinion, water bodies/johads/lakes/water tanks are not only community assets, but also
help in preserving and improving the environment,’ the bench observed.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by the resident’s welfare association of Ekta Vihar seeking strong action against encroachers of lakes, ponds and water bodies.
Disposing of the plea, the court said: ‘All deputy Commissioners are directed to ensure that none of the water bodies... are encroached or allotted in future to make good the deficiency of land during consolidation proceedings.’
‘If any water bodies have been allotted in the past to a villager during consolidation proceedings and no permanent structure has been constructed thereon, the Deputy Commissioners are directed to ensure that possession of the said bodies is taken back after giving them alternative land’.
‘In our opinion, water bodies/johads/lakes/water tanks are not only community assets, but also
help in preserving and improving the environment,’ the bench observed.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by the resident’s welfare association of Ekta Vihar seeking strong action against encroachers of lakes, ponds and water bodies.
Disposing of the plea, the court said: ‘All deputy Commissioners are directed to ensure that none of the water bodies... are encroached or allotted in future to make good the deficiency of land during consolidation proceedings.’
‘If any water bodies have been allotted in the past to a villager during consolidation proceedings and no permanent structure has been constructed thereon, the Deputy Commissioners are directed to ensure that possession of the said bodies is taken back after giving them alternative land’.
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