The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the Bombay High Court’s earlier decision refusing to classify Nagpur’s iconic Futala Lake as a “wetland” under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. This ruling allows the Maharashtra government and state agencies to continue with construction and development activities around the lake, including the ongoing Futala Lake beautification project.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices K. Vinod Chandran and N.V. Anjaria dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Nagpur-based NGO Swachh Association. The NGO had argued that such constructions—like the floating restaurant, musical fountain, and viewing gallery—violated environmental safeguards and harmed the lake’s ecology.
The petitioners claimed that these activities breached the Wetlands Rules, 2017, and ignored planning and environmental protocols. They urged the Court to restore the lake to its natural state, citing the Public Trust Doctrine and the Precautionary Principle.
However, the State and other respondents opposed the plea, asserting that Futala Lake is a man-made water body created for urban and recreational purposes, and therefore does not qualify as a “wetland” under Rule 2(1)(g) of the 2017 Rules.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court’s decision clears the way for the continuation of beautification and tourism infrastructure projects at the historic Futala Lake in Nagpur.
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