Committee wants ban on construction around Nainital

The members of the Nainital lake Conservation Committee have demanded a ban on construction of buildings around Nainital. The members at a meeting held in Nainital on Monday also drew the attention of the district administration Nainital over the construction of high- rise buildings by builders  in different parts of the district,  including Shyamkhet, Mukteshwar and Gaagar.

They expressed concern over alleged illegal construction of roads in forest lands in these areas. They stressed the need to allow building construction works only as per the existing  building bylaws. Meanwhile, Commissioner of Kumaon, AS Nayal, while presiding over the said meeting, asked the District Magistrate, Nainital, to look into the illegal construction activities in the lake city Nainital and take action against those who are found guilty of violating the existing building by-laws.

The Committee members said all the building construction works should be allowed only as per the bylaws laid-down by lake Development Authority and Municipal Council.  Keeping in view the sentiments expressed by  the members Naya directed the District Magistrate to conduct regular checking of the lake city once a week along with a team consisting of SDM concerned, secretary of the lake development authority, executive officer, Nainital municipal council and official concerned from the PWD, to see if there is any such illegal construction activities going on. The lake city is considered to be sensitive from natural disaster point of view increasing construction activities have only added to its vulnerability, of late.