NAINITAL: National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) on Thursday directed the survey of hot springs in Uttarakhand , observing that these springs should be restored.

Gaurav Bansal, counsel for the petitioner, said, "The tribunal directed the state of Uttarakhand to form a team of qualified people for carrying a survey of hot springs in the hill state and how to restore them. The tribunal has also directed the state government to submit compliance report within two months."

A petition was filed by Pratibha Naithani, stating that Wadia Institute of Himalyan Geology in its study has found that natural springs of Uttarakhand state are dying due to lack of attention from state government as reduction of more than 40% in discharge of water is reported in the springs.

The study also shows that in last 50 years reduction of 25% to 50% of water supply of springs has occurred and there is a need of watershed management.

The petitioner, a resident of Chaidar Pali village in Pauri district, requested the tribunal to direct the agencies of state and central governments to protect and conserve the hot spring (TaptKund) of Gaurikund Temple, to formulate and implement the 'Watershed Management Strategy' for the protection and conservation of natural springs of Uttarakhand region and constitute a high-level committee to ensure the effective implementation of the findings of 'Central Ground Water Board and Watershed Management Strategy' in Uttarakhand.

The petitioner also added that damaged natural springs will cause the destruction of ecological system and in result, it will lead to the destruction of the biological diversity and will hamper and imbalance the water resources of the adjacent natural springs. "The dependent living organism will die by this destruction and failure of management of the water sources," stated the petition.

The petition also alleged that despite the directions of the tribunal on November 7, 2017 regarding steps to be taken to protect natural springs of Uttarakhand, the state government has done nothing to protect and conserve the natural springs of the hill state.

The petitioner sent a legal notice after non-compliance of the tribunals orders to the chief secretary of the state on January 23, 2018 which was delivered on January 29, 2018 but till date no response has been issued from the state government on the notice.

