Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 4: The State High Court today directed all the nominated members of the monitoring committee of Dal Lake to attend the meetings on scheduled date and expected the committee will take immediate steps to achieve the results of preserving and conserving the lake including all water bodies.
The court has been informed that the monitoring committee shall convene meetings on the last Friday of every month and the court directed that the meetings shall be attended by all of its members on scheduled dates. “If for any exceptional reasons any member would not be in a position to attend the meeting personally, then with the permission of the Chief Secretary he shall send his representative”, directed the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magery while dealing with a PIL with regard to protection of famous Dal Lake.
Court also made it clear that the representative of any member of the monitoring committee will be permitted to attend the meeting only in exceptional circumstances otherwise nominated officer shall be personally responsible to attend the meeting. “Any breach of this direction will make the officer liable for violating court orders”, DB warned.
It may be mentioned here that the Chief Secretary while appearing before the court on previous hearing had submitted that a permanent and stable method will be put in place for preserving and protecting the World famous Dal Lake.
The Chief Secretary submitted before the court that a permanent mechanism will be put in place for preserving the lake from encroachment and pollutants and earnest effort will be made by all stake holders, which include the officer of the State to protect and preserved the world famous lake.
CS informed the court that a committee (monitoring and oversee committee) would be constituted by issuing executive order which will be headed by him. He further assured the court that State Government will not be found ‘lagging behind’ in taking all necessary steps in the light of observation made by the court for protecting the lake.
Other officers who were accompanying the CS include Financial Commissioner Planning, Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Commissioner Secretary Law, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Secretary Resources Finance Department, SSP Vigilance.
Court had also directed the concerned authorities from Central Government to render aid and support to the State authorities to preserve the lake as also bringing back its lost glory.
Court today gave a liberty to monitoring committee for constituting sub-committees for dealing with the issues which are being referred by the court and directed these sub-committees to consider and make report to the court.
Meanwhile, the Court after perusal of the status report filed by Pollution Control Board was not satisfied with it and observed that shortcomings have been highlighted in the report but nothing is said as to what action according to statute has been taken.
In this backdrop, Advocate General Jehangir Ganaie submitted before the bench that fresh affidavit will be filed indicating therein as to what action has been taken in the matter and at his request the matter is listed for further consideration in the first week of August.
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