Lonar Lake may turn into ghost structure, warns HC

Nagpur: The historic Lonar Lake would turn into a ghost structure if it isn’t conserved while developing the area on the outer side of its vicinity, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court warned in its recent order.
“If the development of lake and its surrounding takes place without any care for conservation, a time will come when it will sound like a home without children and a ghost structure without any life force in it. There would remain nothing more to build, develop and enjoy as a crater lake, the very heartbeat of development would have gone,” a division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Kilor tersely stated.
While hearing the PIL by petitioners – Kirti Nipankar and others – through counsel Anand Parchure, the bench clarified that the development should only be in the context of conservation of a unique lake and appreciation of its beauty, biology, geology and aesthetic value. It shouldn’t be in reference to any economic development.
In a detailed order pronounced after a marathon hearing, the judges said there’s some confusion regarding the object and purpose of this petition among stakeholders. “Ostensibly, the PIL is filed with an aim of the lake’s preservation and conservation. Gradually, some other issues, though appearing to be quite distinct and divergent, cropped up. In reality, they’re intimately connected.”
Stressing that lake’s development is essentially moored in its conservation, the judges said all agencies involved in the case must work in tandem. Agencies like PWD, MTDC, Forest Department, NHAI, MSRDC, ASI, along with the Buldhana collector are respondents in the case.
“All these agencies must sit together and sort out various issues which are interlinked and interconnected so that what comes out of such efforts would only ensure the lake’s benefit,” the judges said.
Stressing that detailed examination of all issues involved with lake’s preservation is needed, the judges however clarified they can’t resolve all of them. “We think it appropriate to place the responsibility in this regard on the collector. We direct her to look into all issues and give specific suggestions so that further direction can be categorically issued,” they said, while directing Suman Chandra to complete the entire exercise before the next hearing.
Explaining that issues in the PIL may look to be different and may also appear to be running counter to the original object, the judges said it’s only an illusion. “The concept of development can’t be starved off and dehors core issue of the lake’s preservation and conservation. If a lake is preserved and conserved for posterity, then only its development will have any meaning,” the judges said.