Allahabad High Court Seeks UP Govt's Reply On PIL Filed Over 'Poor Upkeep' Of Sandi Bird Sanctuary

The Allahabad High Court has sought the Uttar Pradesh Government's response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea expresing concern about the poor upkeep of a wild life sanctuary known as 'Sandi Bird Sanctuary', situated in Hardoi district.

The Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Mohd. Faiz Alam Khan issued this order on a PIL plea moved by Inner Wheel Club D.O.D Thru. President Pooja Jain And others.

In their plea, the petitioners submitted that in the bird sanctuary, there is a lake having an area of about 3.084 square kilometers which has been habitat of rich biodiversity and contains huge volume of water.

However, the plea further submitted that on account of neglect by the authorities, the lake as well as the bird sanctuary are not only loosing their status as such but are a cause of concern so far as preserving the biodiversity and ecology in the area are concerned.

It was also brought to the notice of the Court that the Sandi Bird Sanctuary is a Ramsar Site, which is based on identification of wetlands under Ramsar Convention to which India is a signatory.

Further, the pleas stated that the State Government had sanctioned quite a big an amount for the upkeep and development of the lake and the bird sanctuary, however, its present status isn't satisfactory.

Against this backdrop, the plea argued that a direction should be issued for an appropriate upkeep of the lake and the sanctuary as it is essential for maintaining an Ecosystem which may support rich biodiversity in the area and by providing adequate arrangement for water storage in the lake, many environmental goals can be attained but because of the neglect on the part of the authorities such goals are far from being achieved.

Further, the Court was also told that the State Government had even prepared a project for conservation of Endangered Species in the lake in question for the year 2010-2011 to 2019-2020 i.e. for a decade.

Having heard the submissions of the petitoner the Court remarked thus:

"As to whether the project envisaged for the aforesaid decade from 2010 to 2020 has achieved its goals or not needs to be ascertained in this public interest litigation and based on such assessment/ascertainment the authorities may be issued appropriate directions to ensure that the aforementioned wetland is maintained appropriately."

Thus, for the aforesaid purpose, the Court asked the Conservator of Forest, State of Uttar Pradesh, the in-charge of Endangered Species Project and the District Forest Officer, Hardoi to submit a comprehensive report, by the next date, about the present status of the lake and the bird sanctuary as also the steps which are either under way at present or have been proposed to be taken in future to maintain the said wetland.

The Court has also sought the presence of the District Forest Officer before the Court on the next date which is April 12, 2022.

The Court had further asked the State Counsel to seek instructions from the Department of Tourism in the State Government as to whether there is any plan to develop the aforementioned wet land area as a tourist spot or as to whether it has already been attempted to be developed as such.

Case Title - Inner Wheel Club D.O.D Thru. President Pooja Jain And Ors. v. State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Forest Dept. And Ors

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