Take steps to protect natural springs: NGT to Uttarakhand govt

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Uttarakhand government to take steps to protect and preserve natural springs like Gaurikund in the hilly state.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar passed the direction while disposing of a plea filed by a local resident seeking directions for conservation of the hot springs in the state.
The tribunal directed the state government to look into the issues raised by the petitioner and act for the protection and conservation of natural springs.
Gaurikund is a pilgrimage site and the base camp for a trek to the famous Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand. It is located at an altitude of 6,502 feet above mean sea level in the Himalayas.

The plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, referred to a reply filed by Central Ground Water Authority and said that due to 2013 catastrophe, the bathing place and other parts of the "Gaurikund Tapt Kund" (hot spring) have been completely destroyed. A team was constituted by the Central Ground Water Board to rejuvenate the hot spring.
Quoting a research paper of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the plea alleged that natural springs in the state were becoming extinct due to lack of attention from the government.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Uttarakhand resident Pratiba Naithani seeking directions to formulate and implement the Watershed Management Strategy for the protection and conservation of natural springs in Uttarakhand.