Chandigarh: SC orders bar on razing of any construction which has come up till May 21. In an immediate relief for those facing demolition of their buildings/ constructions in the Sukhna catchment area, the Supreme Court today ordered a stay on the demolition orders. Making it clear that the Administration authorities will not demolish any construction which has come up till May 21, a division bench of the Apex Court today also ruled that no further construction will be allowed to come up in the catchment area till further orders.

With summer approaching, the UT Administration has swung into action to save the drying out Sukhna Lake. For this, Chandigarh’s tertiary water supply would be used to fill the lake. To restore the Sukhna Lake to normal level, the administration is mulling upon utilising tertiary water supply or waste water of Chandigarh.

During a meeting of committee constituted for the conservation of lake lately, the members deliberated over the usage of tertiary water supply of Chandigarh to fill the man-made Lake.

In order to decide the dispute pertaining to the catchment area of Sukhna Lake, the Chandigarh Administration has sought the original copy of the map of catchment area defined and revalidated by the Survey of India. The map was sought after a meeting recently held by officials of the Chandigarh Administration.
As per available information, it was in 1996 when the Survey of India had defined the catchment area and had revalidated the same in 2006. A coordination committee was constituted by the UT Administration following directions passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday appointed Advocate H C Arora as a local commissioner to submit a report relating to the existence and extent of area under Sukhna Choe. The directions were passed by a division bench during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Jaswant Singh of Baltana seeking directions to Punjab and other respondents to take immediate steps to stop unauthorised or illegal constructions and narrowing down of Sukhna Choe in Baltana village.

To negate the Punjab government’s claim that no part of the catchment area falls within the jurisdiction of Punjab, Advocate Tanu Bedi, amicus curiae in the public interest litigation (PIL) pertaining to Sukhna Lake, today produced photographs to prove that a total of 277 hectares of catchment area falls in Punjab. Bedi also raised the threat to Sukhna Lake over the construction of housing projects in the catchment area.

Chandigarh: The Tatas today defended its ambitious plans of raising skyscrapers in the vicinity of Chandigarh by claiming the project neither obstructed the view of the Shivaliks, nor was it in the Sukhna Lake's catchment area.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today constituted a committee for demarcation of catchment area near Sukhna Lake.

The High Court ordered the constitution of a committee to ensure that there is no illegal construction in the catchment area. The committee has been asked to submit its report on February 13. The committee will comprise senior lawyers M L Sarin, Rajive Atma Ram, amicus curiae Tanu Bedi and representatives of Punjab, Haryana and Ministry of Environment and Forest.

While the New Lake in Sector 42 is filled up using water from tubewells, the rainwater is being allowed to go down the drain. The UT Administration has made no provision for using rain water to fill the lake.

The New Lake, inaugurated in 2008 by the then UT Administrator Gen S F Rodrigues (Retd), was built at a cost of Rs 3.10 crore. The aim was to provide the residents of the southern sectors of the city with a lake in the vicinity and divert the crowds from Sukhna Lake. Another aim was to provide a place for holding religious ceremonies.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today refused to vacate the stay over the construction of Tata Camelot project.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice A K Goel and Justice A K Mittal today declined to vacate stay over the construction of the project after the counsel for Tata Housing Development Company sought vacation of stay.

The Bench showed little conviction in the demand made.

Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Punjab sought time to file a report with regard to the project.

The UT Administration has proposed another plan for the beautification of Sukhna Lake, this time for the rear end. With the aim of making the road at the back of the Lake more appealing to visitors, certain attractive features are likely to be added.

According to the proposal, huts would be constructed along the stretch of the road.