The Uttarakhand High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed raising the issue of pollution in River Saryu due to Uttarayani Mela.
The Petitioner contended that during Uttarayani Mela, shops are permitted to be held at river-bed, right upto River Saryu, which are polluting the river, which is the source of drinking water to Bageshwar town and other villages.
On December 12 , State Counsel has produced in Court written instructions dated 11.12.2023 received by him from the office of Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bageshwar. As per said instructions, District Magistrate had constituted a committee headed by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Bageshwar, and the said committee inspected different areas of Bageshwar and identified places where commercial activities could be held during Uttarayani Mela.
The written instructions submitted in Court are taken on record by the High Court.
The State Counsel, based on instructions, submits that no commercial activity shall be permitted to be undertaken on the river-bed of river Saryu, however, banks of said river shall be permitted for religious ceremony and for taking holy bath.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti Sharma accordingly, dispose of the petition, in terms of the statement made by the State Counsel.