NONGPOH, Feb 26: Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Arpit Upadhyay, in an order, has invoked Section 144 CrPC directing that necessary environmental clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Meghalaya, will have to be obtained for all construction works within 100 metres of Umiam Lake.
The DC’s order comes in compliance with a ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya with regard to a PIL on maintaining and rejuvenating Umiam Lake.
As it is imperative that the environment and ecology around the lake be preserved, carrying of construction materials must also be regulated to ensure that the delicate ecology around the Umiam Lake is not disturbed, the order stated.
A division bench of the High Court had earlier stated that the Meghalaya Government has to chalk out a roadmap for the preservation of the larger water body and the smaller seasonal ones around the lake.
