Rajasthan HC Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Plight In Death Of Migrant Birds Near Sambhar Lake; Orders Postmortem Of Carcasses

"The appropriate department is directed to remove carcasses of birds lying in Sambhar Lake.

We further direct that all such carcasses be sent for post-mortem and identify the cause of death of birds died on May 9, and May 10, 2020," a division bench led by Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty has ordered.

The court has also sought a report on the State's policy "to prevent the unnatural death of migrant and local birds in Sambhar Lake area" within 4 weeks.

In the interregnum, the bench also comprising of Justice Satish Kumar Sharma has directed the State to set up a "temporary nursery" near the lake area to take care of migrant and local birds, which is necessary for their revival and treatment.

The matter will now be taken up on July 3, 2020.

In November last year, the National Green Tribunal had also sought a factual and action taken report on the issue of carcasses of 18000 migrated birds, found at Sambhar lake.

The direction was given jointly to the National Wetland Authority, Government of India, State Wetland Authority, Rajasthan, Rajasthan State PCB and District Magistrate, Jaipur, after the Tribunal was informed that the deaths were a consequence of violation of environmental norms in maintaining the eco system of the wetland including water quality, plant invasion in water bodies, etc.