New Delhi, May 9
The Supreme Court today called for a notification of the Punjab Government declaring certain areas in the periphery of Chandigarh, including that adjacent to the Sukhna lake as reserved forest in view of the allegations in a petition that the protected forests around the city were being brought under urbanisation plan by Haryana, Punjab and Union Territory Administration.

Asking the petitioner, who had moved a special leave petition (SLP) against the Punjab and Haryana High Court order in the matter and also a public interest litigation (PIL) in the apex court, to place on record the Punjab Government’s 1963 notification declaring the area as reserved and protected forests, a Bench of Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice P.P. Naolekhar asked authorities concerned of the three governments to submit their replies within four weeks.

The Bench further extended the April 8 directive of the high court till after the summer vacation, continuing its two orders of last year, banning all construction activities around the Sukhna as the matter will be taken up for hearing on the re-opening of the Supreme Court.