India, June 17 -- The Bombay high court on Monday directed the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) to take steps to clean the holy Israel Lake next to the Jewish cemetery in Panvel.

A division-bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne gave this direction while listening to a plea by Jewish Heritage Trust, which had earlier alleged contamination of the lake due to sewage flow from surrounding encroachments.

"You are under statutory obligation to take steps for ensuring cleanliness. You cannot shy away from that," the court said.

The case pertains to a petition filed by the Jewish Heritage Trust, alleging illegal trespass and encroachment on land reserved for the Jewish community's burial rituals. The high court had ear...