Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 22: High Court closed the PIL with the direction to the authorities to ensure protection of water body ‘Nambal Narkara’ in district Budgam.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal said the grievance of the petitioners was mainly in respect of the simultaneous construction of Walkway/Cycle Track as well as link road on the top of the Bund, which was 6 ½ ft wide only and the project for construction of Walkway/Cycle Track? has been shelved, no cause survives to the petitioners in respect of construction of “Walkway/Cycle Track”.
So far as the prayer made by the petitioners for preservation of the large water body, “Nambal Narkara” by removing encroachments from its edges is concerned, the official respondents are directed to ensure that the water body mentioned above is preserved and maintained properly and no encroachment of the same takes place”, DB directed.
The court accordingly closed the proceedings in the PIL leaving the petitioners free to approach the court again in the event, any fresh cause accrues to them.
This petition was filed in public interest by the residents for commanding the respondent-authorities to address the problem of connectivity in the areas i.e. Nadirgund-Gulshanabad-Laloosheeshgarhi Bagh-Gangbug by constructing the proposed Link Road, Walkway and Cycle Track under one project after taking into consideration the actual dimensions of the land & technical feasibility and further commanding the respondents to take steps for preservation and conservation of the large water body ‘Nambal Narkara’ by removing encroachments from its edges and construct a ring road/green patch along its sides.
The court while having the look at the relief sought by the residents in the PIL said their grievance is that it is not possible to have both link road from the Peerbagh to Gangbugh and “Cycle Track/Walkway” on the top of the Bund which is only 6 ½ ft. wide.
The Joint Commissioner (Works), Srinagar Municipal Corporation stated before the court that the work for construction of ‘Cycle Track/Walk-Way’ was allotted to M/s Al-Mairaj Construction vide allotment order dated 24.06.2024, but during the execution of the work, the inhabitants of the area did not allow the contractor to proceed ahead with the work.
Accordingly, in view of the objection raised by the residents of the area and recommendations of the Executive Engineer concerned, Srinagar Municipal Corporation for cancellation of contract, the contract was cancelled vide order dated 29.03.2025.
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