NGT blames ASI for bad condition of Purana Quila lake

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rapped the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) over the poor condition of Purana Quila lake and summoned its senior official to explain why regular cleanup has not been carried out at this iconic site.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar noted that the lake, which used to be a tourist site, has now become a dumping ground, covered with moss.

The bench asked ASI officials to appear before it and explain why the debris have not been removed from the lake despite the court’s direction.

“This lake was earlier meant for tourism purposes. Today, half of the lake area is sunk in the mosses. As a result, it is totally unclean, unhygienic, and a dumping ground. We direct the senior officer of the ASI to be present before the tribunal on September 5, 2017 and explain why the directions of the tribunal have not been carried out,” the bench said.

Earlier in July, the green tribunal had rapped the Delhi government for the dilapidated condition of Purana Quila and directed it to convert the water bodies into a source of natural beauty for the locals.

The green panel had also approved a proposal put forward by …read more