Meghalaya High Court: In a Public Interest Litigation (‘PIL’) regarding the cleaning of Umiam Lake, the Division Bench of Sanjib Banerjee, (CJ) and W. Diengdoh , J. directed the State to take measures to protect and conserve all the waterbodies in the State.
Background
In the matter at hand, a PIL was filed before the Court regarding the cleaning of Umiam Lake for potentially affecting tourism and for being hazardous to the health of inhabitants of the State of Meghalaya.
In the previous Orders of the Court, the Court had issued notice to the State. Thereafter, the State had constituted a 15- member expert committee to advise the State Government on measures to be taken for restoration and protection of waterbodies, for guidelines on protection of waterbodies in the State and formulating norms for future construction in and around Umiam Lake. The State had further sought time to file a more detailed plan of action on the basis of the recommendations of the Committee.
Court’s Order
The Court directed the State to ensure the protection and conservation of waterbodies in the State. The Court also directed the State and local authorities to not allow any constructions within 50 meters of the high-water mark of the waterbody without the express previous leave of the Court.
The matter was further listed for 19-07-2023.
[In Re: Cleanliness of Umiam Lake v. State of Meghalaya, 2023 SCC OnLine Megh 259, Order dated: 24-05-2023]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the Petitioner: Advocate M. Lyngdoh, Amicus Curiae S.P. Mahanta;
For the Respondents: Addl Senior Government Advocate S. Sengupta,Government Advocate K.P. Bhattacharjee, Senior Advocate V.G.K. Kynta, Advocate P. Nongbri.
