GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court on Thursday, February 6 directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to stop the temporary earthfilling and other construction activities being carried out in the Deepor Beel area.
The counsel for the petition comprised of advocates DK Das and H Betala.
During the hearing, P. Nayak, counsel for the PWD, informed the court that the project, which included earthfilling near Dharapur Tiniali, was not subject to environmental clearance under the EIA Notification of 2006.
However, concerns were raised by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) regarding the impact of these activities on the wetland. Following the project's cancellation, Nayak assured the court that the removal process would take approximately six to eight weeks.
The High Court has directed the PWD to file an affidavit confirming the removal of all temporary earthfilling and construction activities before the next hearing. Additionally, the court instructed the Registry to verify whether a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was registered in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive issued on December 11, 2024 in WP(C) No. 304/2018.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed certain High Courts, including the Gauhati High Court, to register a suo motu PIL based on an affidavit filed by A. Duraisamy, Scientist ‘F’ and Member Secretary of the Central Wetland Regulatory Authority. The High Court has now ordered the Registry to place on record whether such a PIL has been registered.
Furthermore, the Court allowed the Senior Government Advocate of Assam, D. Nath, to file an affidavit in response to its previous order dated July 29, 2024. The matter will be listed for hearing based on the availability of the Bench.