Shillong, Feb 26: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to follow the guidelines in letter and spirit for cleanliness of the Umiam Lake.

In its order passed on February 19, while disposing of a PIL, the Division Bench comprises Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice W Diengdoh said, “Accordingly, PIL No.10 of 2019 is disposed of with the following guidelines, which are to be followed by the State Respondents in letter and spirit.”

The court also warned “If there is any failure on the part of the Officials, who are responsible to follow the above guidelines, departmental action can be initiated against them and their dereliction can be entered in their Service Registers so as to deprive their promotion.”

The guidelines said, ‘If any public property is identified / retrieved on the orders / intervention of this court, a permanent steel display board with bar code & case number must be displayed at vantage points at the said site.’

It said such identified places should be displayed at all relevant Government websites, so as to prevent others to deal with the public property

The guidelines also said, “hawking and parking must not be allowed at such regained public sites except in accordance with law; No permission should be given to use the site as Auto / Taxi stand, causing hindrance to the general public or traffic at large except authorised; No one has right to put up temporary or permanent structures either in the site or on pavements / footpaths, if any, without any permission of the concerned authorities. If there is any unauthorized construction thereon, the authorities must take rapid action to dismantle the same.”