On Tuesday, the Uttarakhand High Court directed authorities to clear debris from the Rispana river and its adjoining seasonal streams, while also initiating the identification of unauthorised constructions over water bodies in the Vikas Nagar region of Dehradun district.

The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Alok Mehra during the hearing of three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by Dehradun residents Urmila Thapa, Renu Paul, and Ajay Narayan Sharma.

The PILs alleged that rampant dumping of debris in rivers and streams was leading to encroachment and the destruction of local and seasonal waterways, which ultimately feed into the Rispana river. The petitioners argued that such actions posed a serious environmental threat.

In previous hearings, the Court had also expressed concern over the matter, noting that the accumulation of debris endangered not only the present ecosystem but also the well-being of future generations. “If we continue with this, the future generations will curse us,” the bench had remarked.

Chief Justice Narendar emphasized that these seasonal streams play a vital role in preventing landslides. Unchecked dumping, he warned, could destabilize the natural flow of water, leading to floods, land erosion, and landslides.

Top state officials including RK Sudhanshu (Principal Secretary), Nitesh Jha (Secretary), and Surendra Narayan Pandey (Secretary) appeared before the Court via video conferencing.

An affidavit submitted by the municipal corporation and secretaries stated that all unauthorized structures would be removed by the end of June, pending review and clearance by the environmental board.

The Court stressed that the core concerns raised in the PILs pertain to the removal of debris from rivers and streams and the identification of constructions on water bodies. It instructed officials to conduct a detailed survey in the Vikas Nagar area to locate such structures and take appropriate action.

To aid in accurate identification, the Court also recommended the use of GPS technology. Furthermore, it directed that construction carried out without proper sanctioned plans be immediately halted. Authorities were asked to submit details of all building sanctions granted in the vicinity of the affected rivers for judicial review.

While the Advocate General highlighted that a similar issue was being addressed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Chief Standing Counsel referred to protections offered under the Namami Gange Project.

The High Court has also called for the production of a comprehensive survey report on the Vikas Nagar area during the next hearing.