HP wetlands issue: HC seeks replies

Shimla: In a matter related to the conservation and management of wetlands — including Chandratal, Khajjiar, Pong Dam, Renukaji and Rewalsar — the high court of Himachal Pradesh on Monday directed the concerned respondents to respond to the previous report filed in March last year and March this year as well, and also to the current compliance affidavit filed by the state.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 22.
The court also took the status report filed by the state on record.
A Himachal Pradesh high court division bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya had heard the matter on Monday after which the above direction was issued.
This petition was registered in terms of the directions passed by the Supreme Court in March 2017 in relation to three projects in Himachal Pradesh, namely, Pongdam, Renuka and Chandratal.
Various directions have been passed by the court from time to time relating to the said wetlands and compliance affidavits have also been filed by the authorities concerned.
On March 24 last year, the court had ordered the matter to be listed on April 24, 2023 to enable the respondents to file a fresh status report.
In compliance thereto, respondents had filed an affidavit on April 20 last year, in which, it was inter alia stated that the expert committee on the wetlands of Himachal Pradesh had visited all the five wetlands.
It was further mentioned in the affidavit submitted to the high court that the formulation process of Integrated Management Plans for Renuka and Pong Wetlands had started and the same was at its final stage.