Supreme Court Extends Stay on Construction Activities at Futala Lake
-l-thumb.jpeg)
The Supreme Court has further extended its stay on construction activities at Futala Lake until March 21, directing the Maharashtra Government and Metro Rail Corporation to refrain from carrying out any construction work at the site. This decision comes after a petition filed by the NGO Swaach Association, Nagpur, raising concerns about the ongoing construction activities at the lake.
Initially, on January 25, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had imposed a stay on the ongoing construction at Futala Lake, which spans over 60 acres of land and was built by Nagpur's Bhosle dynasty. The extension of the stay follows requests made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior counsel Shekhar Naphade during the hearing.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayan, representing the NGO, emphasized the need for maintaining the status quo to protect the water body, citing the emergence of concrete structures at the lake. Despite the Ministry of Environment and Forest declaring Futala Lake as a wetland, concerns were raised over the dumping of over 7,000 tonnes of concrete and the construction of a steel fountain in the middle of the lake for beautification purposes.
Additionally, it was highlighted that a viewers' gallery spanning 16,000 square feet was being constructed along the lake, posing a threat to the ecosystem and aquatic life. The plea underscored the significance of preserving Futala Lake's natural habitat and preventing large-scale construction that could potentially harm its ecological balance.
In response to these concerns, the Supreme Court bench reiterated the importance of safeguarding wetlands, emphasizing the need to halt construction activities temporarily. The authorities were urged to provide a timeline for the removal of concrete structures and the viewers' gallery, ensuring the preservation of Futala Lake's ecological integrity.
As the legal proceedings continue, stakeholders remain committed to addressing environmental concerns and upholding the conservation of Futala Lake, a vital natural resource in the region.
