Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 25: The High Court has directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to allow the Sports Council to up-grade and renovate the Water Sports Centre (WSC) at Nehru Park in Dal lake, Srinagar.
Hearing an application filed by Secretary J&K State Sports Council seeking permission for up-gradation and renovation of existing Water Sports Centre at Nehru Park, Dal Lake, the Division Bench of Justice.
Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Tashi Rabstan by allowing the application directed the LAWDA to consider the plea of State Sports Council by allowing renovation and up-gradation of existing Water Sports Centre at Nehru Park, Dal lake.
It is revealed in the application with particular reference that the State Sports Council has got the Water Sports Centre, approved from the Government of India under PMDP at a cost of Rs 3 crores.
“We are of the considered view that the Jammu and Kashmir Lakes and Waterways Development Authority will consider the grant of such permission, by allowing up-gradation/renovation of Sports Centre at Nehru Park, Dal lake, Srinagar, for the betterment of sports activities in the State”, read the DB order.
Court while allowing the application said despite notice, respondents-LAWDA have failed to file the objections. It is stated that the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Srinagar, made a communication dated 08.08.2018 and intimated the Secretary that the proposed site falls within 200 meters from Dal lake, and LAWDA cannot consider the permission for up-gradation/renovation of existing Water Sports Centre in the area.
Court has been informed that the sports structure at Nehru Park, Dal lake, Srinagar, got damaged in the devastating floods of September 2014, for which the funds have been placed at the disposal of the
concerned authorities (Sports Council) but the applicant-Council is not in a position to carry out the up-gradation/renovation of existing Water Sports Centre in view of restraint orders passed by this Court.
It is stated that renovation is required to carry out the sports activities smoothly and to provide better sports facilities to the players involved in water sports games.
It has been undertaken that Sports Council shall not carry out any construction in the water body within the meaning and contemplation of the order of the court but only upgrade/renovate the existing Water Sports Centre.
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