HC takes note of colour change of Lonar lake
| Date :16-Jun-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, on Monday, passed a slew of directives to protect and preserve Lonar crater lake following change in colour of water due to increase in PH level and salinity of lake water. The High Court directed four senior lawyers including senior advocate C S Kaptan, petitioner’s counsel Adv Anand Parchure, MPCB’s standing counsel Adv Ravi Sanyal and Amicus Curiae Adv Ashutosh Dharmadhikari to visit Lonar lake and submit a status report.
During a special sitting on Monday, a division bench consisting of Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Anil Kilor directed National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Agarkar Institute, Pune to submit report within two weeks. Forest Department, in its report, informed that samples of lake water were already collected with the help of micro-biologists and the same had been sent to Agarkar Institute, Pune and NEERI, Nagpur.
The High Court asked NEERI experts to examine findings and submit its report within four weeks. Irrigation Department has been directed to collect on regular basis the samples of lake water and dam at upper level and make available for explanation for comparative analysis to arrive at conclusion. The High Court also asked Public Works Department (PWD) and Buldhana Collector to file report about possible alternative site for Lonar-Kinhi road passing through ecologically sensitive zone or taking necessary precautions in case no alternative site was found. The zone has a large quantity of material having geological and historical importance known as ‘Ejecta blanket’, a stage just before formation of diamond.
About non-functional sewage water treatment plant and delay in shifting of 400 tenements and slum-dwellers, the High Court directed the departments concerned to expeditiously look into the matter and submit the report. Water shortage faced by residents of Lonar Municipal Council area due to old supply line was also highlighted before the High Court, which directed the council to submit fresh proposal to Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran within next 10 days. The High Court directed local police and administration to take necessary action against open defecation with the help of NGOs.
The High Court also directed PWD to hand over the rest house building in protected zone to Forest Department as early as possible. Time and again, the High Court had issued a number of directions to sort out all difficulties in protecting Lonar crater lake and the PIL filed by Kirti Nipankar had helped in restoration of glory of this natural wonder. But, due to this sudden colour change, questions were raised over the steps taken for preservation due to which the High Court convened the special sitting on Monday morning and passed an elaborate order seeking status and progress reports. Adv Anand Parchure (petitioner), Amicus Curiae Ashutosh Dharmadhikari, Adv Ravi Sanyal (MPCB) appeared in the matter.