Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: In the much publicized writ petition filed by Prof S K Bhalla seeking demolition/removal of encroachments made by former Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla and others on the nallah /drainage adjoining Satyam Resorts, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) filed the status report in the High Court in terms of the directions issued on December 23, 2015.
In the status report, it has been mentioned that ERA has no Revenue Wing nor is the custodian of any revenue records as such it is not possible to comment on the title of the land in the stretch under reference.
“The quantum of encroachment, if any, can be determined by the department having full details of ownership of land under reference”, the CEO said in the status report. The ERA has also attached the site plan indicating the detailed factual site position.
In the status report, it has also been submitted that this particular stretch of the nallah was already trained and made Pucca by Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) and the discharge carrying capacity of existing section is 46.600m3/Sec i.e. more than required capacity and for this reason ERA thought it prudent not to undertake any work in this stretch.
“It would have been a futile exercise and wastage of public money to dismantle the existing Pucca Nallah and reconstruct it for a lower discharge capacity”, the CEO further said in the status report.
It is pertinent to mention here that High Court vide order dated December 23, 2015 had impleaded Chief Executive Officer J&K ERA as a necessary party and had directed him to file latest status report with regard to alleged encroachments highlighted in the writ petition.
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