Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: The High Court today closed a public interest litigation with regard to encroachments on river Jhelum with the observation that a separate petition is already pending before the court.
However, court said that the authorities to ensure that no encroachments be allowed on the river banks and its surroundings.
A communication sent by an NGO namely Greater Verinag Civil Society was treated as a public interest litigation by the court pertains to encroachments at the source of Jhelum river, dumping of wastes and inadequacy of drainage system and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Secretary Tourism department and Chief Executive Officer Verinag Development Authority were made as party respondents in the PIL and directed to report compliance on the issue raised in the PIL.
Chief Executive Officer VDA, in his status report, admitted that there might have been encroachments but those can be identified by the Revenue authorities in coordination with the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and further course of action for removing these encroachments can be initiated thereafter. He further added that the VDA has not undertaken any constructional activity in close vicinity of Verinag Garden.
So far as drainage system is concerned, the CEO VDA submitted that the same can be taken up with the UEED Department which has expertise in framing proper drainage plans. “The encroachments of Nallah Sandran and Nallah Kukruner can be taken up with Revenue department and Irrigation and Flood control Department for identification of encroachments”, read the report.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice D S Thakur after perusal of the said report and informing about the pendency of PIL pertaining to encroachments on banks of river Jhelum closed the instant PIL with the observation that a PIL is already pending before the court on the issue. Court however, asked the authorities to ensure that no encroachments be allowed on the banks of river.
It is noted here that a PIL under the title of Peer Noor-ul-Haq versus State & Others is pending before the court, which has passed numerous directions in the said petition to the authorities for removing of any kind of encroachments on river Jhelum and its tributaries. Court had also imposed huge penalty on various engineers of I&FC department ranking from CE to JE for their negligence in maintaining the pristine glory of the Jhelum.
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