HC stalls construction of Vrindavan bridge alongside river Yamuna

The petitioner contended that Vrindavan has its religious importance and made a mention of the Panchkosi Parikrama Marg passing through the Ghats situated on the banks of the Yamuna. Pointing out that pilgrims do parikrama on the Parikrama Marg to worship Lord Krishnam,the PIL alleged that some persons in collusion with authorities had encroached upon the bank of Yamuna by raising constructions and making houses,ashrams and hotels between the Ghats and the river along the Parikrama Marg.

Claiming that construction work of the bridge was against the rules of the Indian Archaeological Act and that the same was stopped by the previous district magistrate,the petitioner alleged that work on the bridge was restarted without obtaining necessary permission from the departments concerned .

To permit construction alongside the river amounts to breach of statutory provision of the Environment (Protection) Act,Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,the PIL contended.

The Court,while staying construction of the bridge and other illegal constructions on the land strip between the Ghats and Yamuna,also stopped the dumping of garbage in River Yamuna or on its banks and directed all the departments concerned — Pollution Control Board and Environmental department of the Central Government — to ensure that no further constructions were raised in Vrindavan.

The Court also asked all authorities of the Central and state government to file their detailed replies in Court by the next hearing scheduled for February 23,2010.

The Court was of the view that without the Supreme Court’s permission,construction of the bridge along River Yamuna at Vrindavan,which comes under the Taj Trapezium Zone,cannot be allowed.