Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 18: The High Court today directed that a technical expert should be consulted and appointed for supervising the repair or renovation of any structure in and around Pahalgam tourist resort and directed for proper checking of Hotels about functioning of STPs.
The Division Bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey did not agree with the appointment of Chief Town Planner (CTP) for supervising the repair and renovation of structures in and around the resort with the observation that the CTP is already assigned with various works as such it would be proper to consult some other expert in this connection.
Earlier, authorities had entrusted the job to CTP but the Court today did not opine for the same as apart from this he (CTP) has his own job also.
Court has also directed for re-examining and checking of those hotels which do have rooms below 20. The PCB, in its report, has submitted that the board has made visit to all the 42 hotels situated in the resort and during checking out of 42 hotels, 24 have been found complying with the directions as these hotels have their own STPs and are running properly.
About 18 hotels it has been submitted that these hotels are running with below 20 rooms and as per the requirement there is no need of individual STP for those hotels which have rooms below 20.
Court, however, did not agree with the PCBs version and said these hotels be examined again and under the requirement they have done this only to dispel from the requirement of having 20 rooms and might have shown rooms less than 20.
To make the resort polythene free, Court has been informed that the PCB has seized recently 54 kilogrammes of polythene which in the shape of status report has been brought to the notice of the Court, which appreciated the action taken by the Board and directed to continue the drive.
With regard to demarcation of adjoining villages of the resort, the CTP submitted that he has received the revenue records from the DC three days ago and sought some time for follow up action. Authorities were also required to demarcate different zones like forest zone, wildlife zone, construction zone and non-construction zone
Pertinently Court has already made it clear that there shall be no fresh construction within the peripheries of Pahalgam limits and in case any repair for permissible areas is required that shall be strictly in accordance with law governing the field.
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