Madhya Pradesh High Court Asks Gwalior Municipal Corporation, State & Central Govts To 'Synchronise' Efforts For Reviving Swarn Rekha River

The Gwalior Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the city Municipal Corporation, the State Government and the Central Government to "work in sync" for the revival of the Swarn Rekha River.The court has also said that the Central Government shall also cooperate in this regard under the Namami Gange Project and/or any other project/scheme if required. The division bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh in its January 29 order observed, “As repeatedly referred by this Court that this Public Interest Litigation is not an adversarial litigation and all parties have to share a common platform, therefore, this Court is of the view that Municipal Corporation Gwalior, State Government, its different departments and Central Government shall have to synchronise their working in respect of present case...If required, Central Government shall also cooperate in this regard under Namami Gange Project and/or any other project/scheme for which State Government shall file necessary documents and application, if required.”The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation plea filed for the revival of Swarn Rekha River. The court in its November 26, 2024 order had directed the Gwalior Municipal Corporation to present the Detailed Project Report (DPR)–on the laying down of sewer lines– within a month. The said report was duly submitted.Thereafter On January 16, the Court had asked the Municipal Corporation, Gwalior to immediately start the work for revival of Swarn Rekha River as promised earlier by the Municipal Corporation. On the said date, the court opined that the Municipal Corporation and Irrigation Department have to go a long way. Therefore, they should start the work on the very same day mainly the first dimension of putting iron mesh.On January 29, the counsel appearing for Municipal Corporation submitted the status report and informed the Court that work of putting in iron mesh is in progress across the river where the chances of mixing of filth/wastes on the river bed is higher. The court said that the respondents are expected to ensure suitable mechanism so that people may not throw filth/wastes in river bed because once the sewage line is constructed and fresh water from Veerpur Bandh /Hanuman Bandh starts pouring in, then river would be revived and such filth/waste ought not to come in way of cleanliness.The counsel for respondents/city Municipal Corporation submitted that the Commissioner through a letter had informed the Engineer-in-Chief, Urban Administration and Development at Bhopal to place the matter for approval of DPR amounting Rs. 810.67 crores before State Level Technical Committee for it to get approved so that construction and laying of sewage line would be started."From the discussion, it appears that Municipal Corporation, Gwalior and State Government are not in sync; therefore, documents placed by Municipal Corporation, Gwalior are not available with the Government Counsel," the court observed asking the authorities to work together. “Once any order is passed, then it would be mandatory for respondents to hold a meeting immediately within three-four days for preparing a road-map for compliance of Court order so passed and would ensure that before 2-3 days of listing of case, a meeting shall be reconvened to get the status of compliance. This way all departments shall share common platform and would meaningfully assist this Court in this PIL”, it added. The court, thereafter said that the respondents shall convene meetings as directed and inform the Court about the proposed road map for laying down of sewage line. The court also said that since it is a public cause, the State Government should not cause any undue delay in considering the disbursement of funds.The matter is listed for further hearing on February 18. Case Title: Vishvajeet Ratoniya Vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others, WP No. 19102 Of 2019Click Here To Read Order

Madhya Pradesh High Court Asks Gwalior Municipal Corporation, State & Central Govts To 'Synchronise' Efforts For Reviving Swarn Rekha River

Anukriti Mishra

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