In a significant ruling aimed at environmental conservation, the Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday mandated the removal of debris from the Rispana River and other seasonal streams in the Dehradun district. The court also ordered the identification and removal of unauthorized constructions on water bodies within the Vikas Nagar area. This decision emerged during the hearing of three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) initiated by local residents Urmila Thapa, Renu Paul, and Ajay Narayan Sharma, expressing concerns over the ongoing environmental degradation.
Presiding over the case, Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra underscored the urgency of addressing the encroachments and pollution affecting the local waterways. “If we continue with this, the future generations will curse us,” remarked the bench, echoing sentiments from a previous order which similarly called for immediate remedial action.
The litigants highlighted the severe impact of debris dumping, which not only encroaches but also threatens the existence of local and seasonal streams contributing to the Rispana River. The PILs emphasized that these water bodies play a crucial role in preventing landslides and, if neglected, could lead to catastrophic floods, land erosion, and landslides.
The hearing was attended via video conferencing by key state officials, including RK Sudhanshu, Principal Secretary (Forest), Nitesh Jha, Secretary (Urban Development), and Surendra Narayan Pandey, Secretary (Revenue). The officials presented an affidavit assuring that all unauthorized structures would be cleared by the end of June, pending review by the environmental board.
The High Court has requested a detailed survey using GPS technology to pinpoint structures illegally erected on water bodies. This initiative aligns with broader environmental protection efforts, including the Namami Gange Project, which the court noted for its role in safeguarding aquatic environments.
Furthermore, the court directed that all construction activities lacking officially sanctioned plans should cease immediately. It also ordered the production of all sanctions granted to individuals for constructions near the mentioned rivers for judicial scrutiny.
