Dehradun, February 8,2023: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a complete ban on the commercial use of the water from Mussoorie Lake, leading to a crisis among the city's hoteliers. The order was issued after hearing a petition alleging that the natural flow of the lake was being affected by the extraction of water from a nearby spring, causing harm to aquatic organisms.
The District Magistrate of Dehradun has called a meeting of all relevant officials and hoteliers to enforce the NGT's order and issue strict instructions for its implementation. The hoteliers of Mussoorie are currently using tankers to bring the water from the lake to their establishments, but with a demand for 14 MLD and only a supply of 7.50 MLD, water scarcity is already a major issue in the city.
The president of the Mussoorie Traders Association, Rajat Aggarwal, has expressed his concerns about the deepening water crisis and its impact on the city's tourism industry. He intends to take the matter to the Supreme Court. The District Magistrate has stated that the NGT's orders will be followed and necessary instructions will be given to the SDM and the Pollution Control Board.
Mussoorie Lake is a man-made lake located in the hill station of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. It was built to serve as a source of drinking water and to support tourism in the area. The lake draws its water from a nearby spring, and its natural flow has been impacted by the extraction of water for commercial purposes.