| |
Ajay
Rawat
Ajay S Rawat is a rare mix of an academician of international
repute and an activist. Since 1984, he took up the responsibility
of protecting and reviving the lakes of Nainital, his hometown.
He began by writing and raising concern about pollution in the
Naini Lake lake and the threat it was posing to the very existence
to Nainital towns and adjoining areas. Such efforts generated
awareness among different sections of both state and society.
"It is an ongoing battle. First, in the court, when
the case is being heard and then, with the executive for the
implementation of the court orders. The litigant and the local
people have to act as watch dogs," said Rawat, who filed
a Public Interest Iitigation (PIL) for the protection of Naini
Lake in 1993. The Supreme Court (SC) gave its final verdict
in 1995. Since then, the litigant with public support is on
the guard. These efforts are paying rich dividends.
The overflow of the Naini Lake during the monsoon passes
through the nallah and into the Ballia ravine. The nallah
was in shambles and if it had caved in the lake water would
have swept off several townships in the foothills. However,
these concerns never received attention either from the authorities
or of the people living in the plains. Though such mishaps are
not uncommon in the region. The SC order on March 9, 1995 effectively
addressed the concerns raised. It directed:
- Proper maintenance of the Ballia ravine,
- Banning of construction of multi-storied group housing
societies in Nainital township
- Prevention of sewage and other pollutants from entering
the lake.
The order has been executed. The proposals of 149 group-housing
societies were cancelled by the administration. The height and
the area of individuals houses have been fixed. The lake is
being cleaned annually. Occasional intervention from the High
Court has also spurred up the administration. Recently, the
Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has accepted an Rs
98.6 crores plan to revive the lake and its catchment.
The state government has also released Rs 7 crores for
the maintenance of Ballia ravine. The works will be completed
by 2003, subsequently an afforestation programme will be launched
and vegetative spurs will be developed. Every year during the
monsoons, residents of the surrounding areas were asked to move
to safer places, but not this year.
|
|
|
