New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- Taking serious exception to the destruction and drying up of Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, the Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the builder-mafia and state officials, opining that they had acted in connivance that led to the severe ecological damage to the lake.

The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, remarked that the lake is at the verge of destruction and attributed this to a nexus between bureaucrats and the builder mafia.

"Sukhna Lake, aur Kitna Sukhaogey Sukhna lake ko? (How much longer will you dry up Sukhna Lake?) It is on the verge of destruction. Builder mafia is working with political backing from bureaucrats. Who are the builder mafia operating?" the CJI said.

The rem...