Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 18: High Court has directed the Secretaries and Heads of all the departments to provide timely and quick cooperation to the direction or suggestion made by the Committee of Experts with regard to the protection and restoring the glory of Dal lake.
The Division Bench passed these directions after perusal of the third report of Committee of Experts. The report reflects the tremendous efforts being put in by the Committee of Experts and its laudable suggestions.
Court, however, expressed its serious concern for not filing any Action Taken Report with regard to the previous Court directions or the suggestions made by the Committee of Experts before the court.
“We direct the Secretaries or the Heads of all the Authorities and Departments to ensure prompt cooperation and action in response to any suggestion, direction made by the Committee of Experts or request from the LAWDA with regard to any aspect relating to subject matter of consideration by this court or the Committee of Experts”, DB directed.
When asked to State counsel about non filing of ATR, he informed the Court that the same could not be filed for the reason that under orders of the Chief Secretary, Prasanna Ramaswamy stands recently appointed as Vice Chairman, LAWDA who is holding full-fledged charge of the organization, and has to file the same.
Court further directed the Revenue authorities to take immediate action for identifying the land for rehabilitation of the owners of the floating gardens. “The decision in this regard shall be communicated to the Vice Chairman LAWDA as well as Committee of Experts within two weeks. This is essential to enable the allotments and commencement of farming at the relocation sites by the persons who have to be moved”, court said.
Court also directed the Committee of Experts to ensure that the authorities place a comprehensive scheme and plan for rehabilitation of all the persons who have to be rehabilitated before it.
“Provisions of all necessary facilities at the rehabilitation site would also be undertaken. The proposal for relocation shall be placed before the Committee of Experts by the end of this month so that the Committee of Experts can examine the same and visit the proposed site as well in its forthcoming visit to Srinagar”, reads the order.
Court also recorded that Chief Secretary of the State is asked to look into the observations by the Committee of Experts with regard to converting weed waste into ‘wealth’ and to examine the possibility of the commercial utilization of the weeds.
LAWDA has been directed to place a report with regard to the action taken on the public notices regarding STPs which had to be installed by hoteliers around the periphery of the Dal Lake.
“The authorities shall also place before us the steps taken towards informing and educating the public about the directions of the Court recommendations of the Committee of Experts, applicable laws and regulations etc”, court directed. Court further made it clear till such time the Dal Lake is rejuvenated and revived, there would be no use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers in and around the Dal Lake, as the LAWDA has expressed its inability to impose a blanket ban on use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by farmers on and around the Dal Lake. “This prohibition shall be implemented by the State Pollution Control Board and the local police”, court said.
State counsel has assured the court that the recently appointed VC LAWDA shall examine the matter on urgent basis, and submit the action taken in terms of the recommendations and suggestions of the Committee of Experts and the Action Taken Report shall be filed positively within three weeks from today.
Apart from the LAWDA, court said, the State Pollution Control Board; the Revenue Authorities; the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture; the Department of Tourism are required to take action upon the recommendations of the Committee of Experts and the orders passed by this court.
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