Conservation and restoration of water bodies in Rajasthan In each divisional level in the state of Rajasthan a committee has to be constituted under the chairmanship of Revenue Commissioner of the division to monitor the effective implementation of the water conservation schemes introduced by the government. The committee should also ensure that there should not be any encroachment over the land of ponds, tanks and lakes, and if, there is any encroachment that be removed immediately said the order of the National Green Tribunal, Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal, September 25, 2023.

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Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board was directed to ensure that there is no discharge of untreated water and solid waste into the water bodies. In case of encroachment of water bodies or discharge of solid and liquid waste in the water bodies, necessary action needs to be taken in addition of realization of environmental compensation.

The NGT order came in the wake of the application filed by Mahadev Singh, resident of Munwas, district Udaipur before the NGT about the illegal encroachment and construction on grazing land and the dumping of debris in Bagela pond. Truck full of debris was being dumped in the pond and a few hotel owners had constructed a building by filling a portion of the pond by discharging waste water into the pond. The natural source of water coming to the pond have been closed for construction purposes by Valansia resort, the application said.

The court also directed the Collector, Udaipur and the Municipal Corporation to remove the encroachment and ensure that no solid waste should be thrown in the pond area. In addition, provision should be made for a treatment plant to treat the water and the Municipal Corporation should ensure installation of the STP and also proper functioning of the STP already installed and in the mean time in-situ remedial process should be considered, where there is no STP.