Shimla, Jan. 9 -- A court in Himachal Pradesh's Una district has directed the administration to immediately remove illegal encroachments from a protected wetland area, stressing that any delay would cause serious harm to wildlife habitat and the local ecology.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Una, while passing the order earlier this week (January 7) instructed the authorities concerned to clear all unlawful occupation from the notified wetland and restore the area to its original status. The court observed that wetlands are ecologically sensitive zones and cannot be permitted to be used for private or commercial purposes.

Quoting the court order, it was stated that "all fencing raised illegally around the wetland shall be removed f...