College near Agra bird sanctuary to be closed

Agra district authorities have ordered the closure of an engneering college near a bird sanctury for violating environmental laws, an official said Thursday.

District Magistrate Zuher-Bin-Sagir Wednesday asked the wildlife department to seal Anand Engineering College, on the periphery of eco-sensitive Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary on the Delhi-Agra Highway, 20 km from here, an official said.

"The DM has acted on the Allahabad High Court directive which required sealing of the premises of the engineering college," District Forest Officer Sujoy Bannerjee told IANS.

The wildlife department had filed a first information report (FIR) six months ago and sealed the college. The management went to the high court but lost, last month.

The college was built illegally in the area and its high mast lights disturbed the birds. The waste from the college hostels was found being discharged into the lake without treatment.

The department in September, 2012 had sealed the two buildings of the college close to the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Agra over charges of illegal construction and undue pollution of Uttar Pradesh's largest lake.