Nagpur: The Swacch Association, an NGO in the city, has approached the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court objecting to the ongoing development works at Futala Lake, including Musical Fountain, viewers gallery, laser show and multi-storeyed parking plaza in front of it, according to a media report.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Atul Chandurkar and Justice Vrushali Joshi issued notices to respondents — Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Maharashtra Government’s Environment Ministry, its wetland authority and others — asking them to file a reply in four weeks. The other respondents include the Public Works Department, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), MahaMetro, Nagpur Metropolitan Regional Development Authority, PDKV, and MAFSU.
The report said that the petitioner Swacch Association, through its President Anasuya Kale Chhabrani, contended that the ongoing works at the lake constructed by the Bhonsales in 1799 were in complete violation of norms, as it is a wetland and Grade-I heritage body.
The lake, spread in about 200 hectares, has all the essential characteristics of a wetland. However, the beautification works affect its natural environment and serenity by adding concrete structures on its bank and installing machinery for fountains, the NGO said.
The petitioner prayed for removing all machinery from the lake and restoring it to its original condition. She also requested for a stay on the multi story parking plaza on PDKV land and demolition of the structure built thereon.
According to Chhabrani, the lake was mentioned in the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment. Quoting Vanshakti versus Union of India’s case order of October 14, 2013, she said directives were issued that no reclamation of land or any kind of construction would be undertaken, regarding wetlands identified by the Centre.
“Considering the order passed by the Supreme Court in MK Balkrishnan’s case on October 4, 2017, the MoEFCC had issued an office memorandum on March 8, 2022, seeking to protect such wetlands. The NGO had made a representation to the Wetlands Conservation Authority on May 17, 2022, but no cognizance was taken,” the petitioner said.
The petitioner slammed the NMC’s Heritage Conservation Committee for granting approval to the ongoing works, viewers gallery and fountains terming it as “non-application of mind” by members. She pointed out that Headquarters Maintenance Command of IAF adjacent to the lake had objected to the laser show saying it may affect helicopter pilot training and landing on its premises, the report said.
