NGT asks Uttarakhand to study Mussoorie’s specific carrying capacity
The Hindu
Green court has also formed a nine-member committee to suggest remedial measures for preventing environmental damage to the town, one of the most visited tourist destinations in the State
Taking suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report that has warned of a Joshimath-like situation in Mussoorie town, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued directions to the Uttarakhand Government to conduct a study of the specific carrying capacity of the hill station. The green court has also formed a nine-member committee to suggest remedial measures for preventing environmental damage to the town, one of the most visited tourist destinations in the State.
Read: Ground Zero | Fear and foreboding in Joshimath
The Bench comprising Chairperson Justice A.K. Goel, Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal, and Expert Members A. Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad was hearing another matter pertaining to stone crushers violating environmental norms earlier this week when it took cognisance of the issue.
The Bench mentioned the study on Mussoorie’s carrying capacity by the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in 2001, which had suggested that no further construction was viable.
“Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has failed to go by the said study and take preventive and remedial measures. Proponents of development such as Uttarakhand Hotel and Restaurant Association do not want any control on developmental activities,” the court maintained.
Additional District Magistrate (administration), Dehradun, K.K. Mishra told the court that an inspection had been undertaken with regard to seepage and land subsidence of buildings adjoining the road at Landour Bazaar in Mussoorie on January 12, and the order to vacate the premises had been issued to some multi-storeyed, dilapidated buildings.
“Sewage line is passing through the land which has subsided and there are no drains for drainage of the rainwater in 50-metre area of the buildings. The absence of proper drainage is the reason for the subsidence of sewer lines and roads,” the official told the court
Tackling a peculiar situation, arising in the case of a cross-border adoption of a child, which is not envisaged in Indian laws, the High Court of Karnataka directed the Union government to stretch its magnanimity and validate the adoption of a Ugandan child by a non-resident Indian (NRI) couple, who adopted the child with the approval of the High Court of Uganda as per the laws of that country.
School Education Principal Secretary Praveen Prakash on March 28 (Thursday) instructed the District Education Officers to ensure that digital infrastructure such as smart TVs, computers, Interactive Flat Panels, projectors and other devices were in good condition, in view of the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) scheduled to be held on April 10 and 12.