“Lakes are not mere water bodies but living heritage”: Rajasthan HC takes suo motu cognizance of encroachments and decay threatening Udaipur’s lakes, orders status quo
Citing newspaper reports on unresolved boundary disputes over Rupsagar Talab, recurring structural failures in Madar Canal, and unchecked development near Fatehsagar Lake, the Court invoked Article 21’s right to a clean environment and the Public Trust Doctrine to direct that no further encroachment, construction or pollution be permitted in any of Udaipur’s lakes pending a coordinated status report from eleven state authorities.