Over the last few years, government authorities like UIT (Urban Improvement Trust) and the Municipal Corporation of Udaipur are misusing the name of Lake Conservation Committee, an NGO, for stopping any construction, mainly residential construction in downstream areas of the city.

The above allegations are made by members of the Lake Conservation Committee in a press conference held today at Dr. Mohan Singh Mehta Memorial Trust’s Vidya Bhavan auditorium.

“However, the same authorities never took any strong step to prevent construction of multi-storey 5 star hotels and resorts which are built on the shores of Udaipur’s lakes.”

“Such mistreatment and misleading to the common public is certainly not going to be tolerated and authorities should obey the order of court and allow construction of houses and repairs to existing structures under relevant rules in the downstream areas.”

The above suggestive comments are made by Dr. Tej Rajdan, Secretary of Lake Conservation Committee.

He said, “we are working to save the lakes of Udaipur from more than 30 years now; it is a step to protect both the nature and common public of Udaipur, but when authorities are using our name as an obstruction to give permission to anyone who wants to construct a house or simply repairing an existing structure then it is absolutely wrong.”

“We are a non-government body and have limitations, while government controlled “Lake Protection Committee” is the one which takes care of the matter of giving permission of construction or not”, added Dr. Rajdan.

Mr. Anil Mehta, Joint Secretary and Mr. Nandkishore Sharma, Coordinator of Mohan Singh Mehta Memorial Trust were also present in the press conference.

Following is a detailed report released by the Lake Conservation Committee which has all important actions recorded.

1. Suggestion of ‘No Construction Area’ around the lakes was proposed to the State Government by Officers of Nagar Niyojan Vibhag, UIT, Nagar Parisha, etc. in the year 1994

2. A notification of making a ‘No Construction Zone was given by the State Government on 17^th January, 1997.

3. Downstream areas were also included in the notification. To free such downstream area from the regulations of the ‘No Construction Zone’ notification, the Committee sent an application to the administration in June 1997. The Committee, with reference to Section 171 of the Municipality Regulation Act, has also asked to permit construction to those who have built their houses and colonies near lakes and villages like Sisarma with all due permission from Nagar Parishad.

4. The Udaipur High court in its order of 8^th May 2000 has also granted permission on repairs and expansions to buildings constructed before 1997

5. On our suggestion the Udaipur High Court has also excluded areas which do not have their sewage towards lakes, viz. Ravji Ka Haata, Ghantaghar, Hathipole, Bhatiyani Chohatta, etc. from No Construction Zone regulations. According to this, Saheliyo Ki Badi, Moti Magri scheme, Railway Colony, etc are also not included in the No Construction Zone.

6. Keeping in mind the Previous order of Court at the time of Court Order of 2007, orders have been given to permit construction in areas under No Construction Zone in the rarest of rare case (rarest of rare case includes both environment as well as residence of common people).