‘Sukhna’s catchment not within purview of Punjab Forest dept’

“The Chief Engineer,Drainage,Irrigation Works,Punjab has reported that the construction of Sukhna Lake was done way back in the year 1958 by Punjab Irrigation Department and its maintenance is with Chandigarh Administration since 1979. It has been further informed that the catchment area of Sukhna Lake does not fall under the jurisdiction of Punjab Irrigation Department” reads the reply. The state has demanded that the PIL qua the State shall be dismissed. The reply was today filed in the Registry of the High Court.

Last week during the resumed hearing of the case,the Haryana government had filed its response stating that the Haryana government will spend nearly seven crores rupees to reduce entry of silt into the Sukhna Lake. An affidavit to this effect was filed by the Haryana government in the Court last week.

The affidavit read that the amount will be spent for plantation,constructing check dams,earthen dams and silt detention dams till 2013. The Haryana government had submitted that it shall be spending over two crores in the current financial year under the “Perspective Plan for the Rehabilitation of Sukhna Choe sub watershed in Panchkula district.”