HC miffed at LAWWDA

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 30:  The High Court was today miffed at the Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWWDA) for not completing the process of shifting the House Boats to Dole Demb area and also directed the Government to expedite the process of regularization of daily wagers in LAWWDA in view of SRO passed in December 21 this year.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey on the issue of shifting of House Boats observed “The shifting of house boats to Dole Demb area has not made any progress at all. The directions were given as far as back in 2015. The entire plan was approved by the Cabinet yet no action has been taken”.
Court said the first phase required shifting of 76 house boats and even that has not been done and directed all concerned authorities to take up the issue expeditiously and seriously and provide status report in the matter.  “If appropriate action is not taken, we may be constrained to issue directions of the coercive nature”, DB warned.
Court during the proceedings of the PIL has been informed by the LAWWDA that a fresh Detailed Project Eeport (DPR) has been submitted for entire Dal lake which includes the Dole Demb area as an integral part of the scheme for shifting the house boats.
It has been submitted before the court that the DPR is pending with H&UDD of the Government. The same has to be approved and then forwarded to Central Government for final approval.
“We direct the H&UDD to expedite the process. Pendency of the DPR would not in any manner hamper the continuance of the earlier project for which funds have already been received and deposited with allied departments for carrying out the work”, the DB directed.
Court while reiterating its earlier directions said, “it was already indicated that process of shifting of the house boats would be carried out in phased manner.”
With regard to regularization of the staff of LAWWDA, the court directed the H&UDD to take up the issue immediately. “The counsel appearing for the Housing and Urban Development department shall take up the matter immediately so that process of regularization is expedited. The proposal shall be immediately sent by LAWWDA to the said department”, Court directed.
Court has also been informed that many springs are to be located at some distance from Dal lake. “Since the water levels were low when the samples were taken, the channels/ springs connecting to lake could not be identified. The LAWWDA shall undertake exercise to identify the traditional roots for springs being connected to Dal lake. The status report be filed by next date”, court directed.
Court has also been apprised that tenders for high aerated plants have been floated and they have also been received. They shall be opened on February 1.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here