Jharkhand High Court Calls For Details On Condition Of Waterbodies In State Capital

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the Ranchi Municipal Corporation to furnish details on the number of water bodies in the state capital and their condition.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad passed the direction in a PIL seeking to remove encroachments from Ranchi Lake and Dhurwa and Kanke dams. 

Advocate Khushboo Kataruka filed the petition noting that since the water of one of the lakes is not being cleaned, it is causing the threat of viral infection like Chikungunya and Typhoid for the residents of the nearby area.

"It is also posing threat to the health of the labourers and homeless persons who rely on the water of the Bada Talab for daily chores."

On the previous hearing, the High Court had directed the RMC and the Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, to apprise the Court about the actual position of encroachment over the 'Bhusur River,' as has been pointed out hereinabove, right from its origin till it merges with the Harmu River as also to apprise about the total length and width of the river.

The petitioner sought directions to the RMC to ensure the cleanliness of the Bada Talab, including the removal of plastic dumps, water hyacinths, and algae. It also sought to stop the sewage flow without any treatment into the water body and speedy construction of the waterbody.

Amicus Curiae Indrajit Sinh submitted that earlier orders passed by the Court had not been complied with in its letter and spirit.

On perusal of the affidavit filed by RMC, the Court noted that the queries raised had not been properly replied to. The Court directed it to file a fresh affidavit on those averments, along with the other water bodies in the capital city. Besides, RMC will also file affidavit about the status of sewerage plant, which is stated to be under process of its installation since September, 2021.

The matter is listed on February 11, 2022, for further hearing. 

Case Title: Khushboo Kataruka v. The State of Jharkhand & Ors and other connected matters.

Click Here To Download The Order