AHMEDABAD: Gujarat High Court on Monday asked Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) not to utilise the money collected as entry fee from visitors at the Kankaria lake. The court was hearing public interest litigations (PILs) demanding abolition of entry fee after opening of the Kankaria Lake Front Development (KLFD).
A division bench headed by the chief justice SJ Mukhopadhaya asked AMC to open a separate bank account and deposit the income it is getting from visitors’ entry fee in it and abstain from using the money till further orders from the high court.
The court issued this direction after a petitioner’s lawyer, PP Banaji, urged the court to grant interim relief in form of removal of fees till the court finally decides the issue.
The judges also asked the civic body to show legal provisions, under which the fee was being levied on people. The issue of maintenance came up during the hearing, and the chief justice inquired why the collection of money should not take place towards the maintenance of the place.
The petitioners have been claiming that its a right of a citizen to have free access to a natural place, and the Kankaria is one such place and authorities cannot keep people away from water bodies. On the other hand, the state government has recently amended a bylaw in BPMC Act, bringing in provision for the authorities to charge fees on entry in public parks.
Regarding putting up of construction within 100 metre-limit of the Archaeological Survey of India-protected inlet to the water tank, the court asked AMC to produce the NOC it has received from the ASI. The court also observed that it would decide on the status of construction after receiving the document whether the structure was put up for residential purpose and the ASI granted permission for the same.
Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has by an order asked the ASI to cancel the permission for construction around protected monuments it has granted during the last couple of years. Further hearing on this issue is scheduled to be held on January 18.
Source: TimesofIndia
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