Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 2: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed removal of all constructions from the banks of river Jhelum and its tributaries and also stayed the ongoing constructions.
The division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed staying of constructions on river banks. “We direct the constructions on the river Jhelum from Verinag downwards shall remain stayed, court committee headed by former district Judge Abdul Wahid shall submit report if any construction is underway in Dal lake as well”, the court order reads.
The court also empowered the district Magistrates across Kashmir to remove constructions in their areas along river banks. “District Magistrates are empowered to demolish if any construction is seen in the respective area. This will be in addition to the earlier orders which are already passed regarding construction in the vicinity of 200 meters in Lidder and 100 meters in Dal Lake”, the order reads.
Earlier, DC Anantnag had disclosed that the cause recent floods in Kashmir valley that led to death of 87 people and destruction of property around Rs one lakh crores, is encroachments along river and streams banks.
The expert committee has reported that out of total width only one by fifth is left out without encroachment and the rest has been encroached. “All the embankments have been breached particularly in Anantnag, Bijbehara tehsil and some villages of other tehsils”, the committee has reported.
The report says breaches occurred due to encroachments by various plantations and constructions along river banks.
The DC Anantnag has directed removal of all plantations and encroachments on the embankments and tributaries of river Jhelum, Lidder, Aripath, Bardi and Vishaw within 15 days. He has further directed that if the encroachers fail to remove the encroachments, these shall be demolished by I&FC division at the cost of encroachers.
Accordingly the applicant, Advocate G A Lone, has requested for issuance of direction that no plantation shall be allowed on river Jhelum from Verinag to downwards and also to the river banks of Lidder, Vishaw, Aripath, Preng, Vatrusu, and Doodganga and other tributaries of Jhelum.
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