SHIMLA: The High Court of Himachal Pradesh, today issued notice to the Secretary (Forest), Pr. Chief Conservator of Forest to the Govt. of H.P., Chief Conservator of Forest and DFO Bilaspur, Assistant Director Fisheries, Bilaspur, Project Director NHAI- PIU, Mandi and Gawar Kiratpur Nerchowk Highway Pvt. Ltd., in a matter pertaining to illegal dumping of muck in the Govind Sagar Lake and its feeding Khuds/Nallahs.
A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice, Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Virender Singh, passed this order, in a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Sh. Madan Lal.
The petitioner has alleged that illegal muck dumping is being carried out in the Govind Sagar Lake while constructing four lane Kiratpur-Nerchowk National Highway.
The petitioner has made various representations/complaints to the authorities but the authorities are not paying any heed to such complainants.
The petitioner has submitted that Govind Sagar Lake Reservoir, situated in Bilaspur and Una districts, has been named after 10th Sikh Guru. It was declared a water fowl refuge way back in 1962.
This Lake being an important fisheries reserve of Government of H.P., is a home of about 51 species of fish such as Silver Carp, Singhara, Mahseer and others who breed here.
The petitioner has submitted that a joint inspection committee consisting of eight (8) members, headed by SDM Bilaspur, was formed by Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur. In its report the committee has pointed out that there are 10-12 khuds near Govind Sagar Lake.
The committee found that there is illegal dumping of muck in these khuds and the muck reaches Govind Sagar Lake due to which huge loss is being caused to the Fisheries Department and fishermen.
The illegal dumping of muck in the reservoir has adversely effected the production of fish and resultantly the fishermen are not being able to earn their livelihood.
The petitioner has alleged that as per a study conducted by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), the fish production has drastically reduced from 1492 metric ton in 2014 to 250 metric ton in 2022.
This drastic reduction in the fish production has badly affected the livelihood of more than 3000 local families.
The petitioner has prayed that respondents be directed to remove illegal muck dumped in the Govind Sagar Lake and also from the khuds/nallahs from where the water flows into the Govind Sagar Lake.
He has further prayed to direct the respondents to initiate an inquiry against the officers/officials responsible for not being able to prevent the illegal muck dumping. It has been also prayed to order an inquiry to look into the loss of livelihood caused to the poor fishermen.
In the meanwhile, the Court has directed the respondents to ensure that there is no illegal dumping of muck in the Govind Sagar Lake and its feeding Khuds/Nallahs. The matter has been adjourned for 12th June, 2023
