HC TELLS U’KHAND TO DRAFT REPORT ON STATE’S GREEN PARAMETERS EVERY 3 YEARS

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday directed the state government to prepare a detailed report on environmental parameters of the entire state every three years to know green status.

Abhijay Negi, counsel of the petitioner said a division bench of chief justice RS Chauhan and justice Narayan Singh Dhanik gave these directions while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Dehradun-based activist Ajay Narain Sharma.

Negi said the HC gave these directions while expanding the scope of the PIL related to illegal encroachment of riverbed of Rispana tributary in Dehradun district. The PIL had alleged how river land had been converted into “banjar” (barren) land and then given away for illegal plotting. Earlier in this case, the HC had directed the Mussoorie and Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) to prepare a report and submit the same to it.

Negi said the court directed the government through the chief secretary to periodically monitor overall environmental status of entire state, every three years through Survey of India and take action within specified timelines for environmental conservation.

Negi said the HC also directed that report should specifically include air quality indicators, water quality indicators and an overall state of the natural resources in the hill state. He said he had prayed for periodic assessment of environmental standards across Uttarakhand, pointing out rapid degradation all around the state.

The HC has also directed the chief secretary to make a separate report for the Urban centres of Uttarakhand, such as Dehradun and Nainital, where the pressure of urbanisation has resulted in widespread environmental degradation.