Letter converted into PIL,HC serves notice to UT Administration on Sukhna Lake

Gautam Khanna,a resident of Sector 9-D,Chandigarh,has highlighted the problem of silt at Sukhna Lake in his letter.

“There has been a problem of excess silt in the lake for sometime now,as a result of which almost half of the water in the lake has dried up. The lake which was originally 2.5 kms in length has been reduced to 1.5 kms. The remaining area has been covered by silt as water has dried up,” reads the letter.  

“The UT Administration is constructing a cafeteria/restaurant at the regulatory end of the lake and I am sure that a lot of funds are being spent on the project,” Khanna has further stated.

Questioning the idea behind constructing a new cafeteria,the letter reads: “What is the point of constructing a cafeteria at the regulator end of the lake when it is drying up due to the problem of silt. No one is trying to redress the problem but want to spend lakhs on a cafeteria when a CITCO restaurant already exists.”

Terming the cafeteria a “frivolous construction”,Khanna stated that around two years ago,the Administration had made an underground irrigation system at the lake but it never worked even for a day.

Khanna has requested the court to intervene and improve the condition of Sukhna Lake.

Bar Council vs Bar Association: HC dismisses petition
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition filed by advocate Arvind Thakur where he stated that the new rules framed by the Bar Council with regard to elections and functioning of Bar associations are illegal and unconstitutional. Thakur,in his petition,had stated that the Bar Council had no power to frame such rules.

The court,however,refused to entertain the petition and dismissed it. It may be recalled that the High Court Bar Association has already rejected the new rules making it clear to the Bar Council either to withdraw the rules or face action.