DESTROYING WATERBODIES

At least 63 ponds and wetlands in the Howrah town of West Bengal have been destroyed, according to a report placed before the Calcutta high court by municipal authorities. The green bench of the court had asked the Howrah Municipal Corporation for the report regarding the condition of wetlands and ponds in the town. The court was hearing a petition filed by Subhas Dutta, general secretary of Howrah Ganatantrik Nagarik Samity, a non-governmental organisation. The petition alleges that the Howrah civic authorities are "indirectly helping promoters for filling up the ponds in the area.'