Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 16: As the new Master Plan for Srinagar has been approved and the buffer zones of Dal Lake have also been notified, the High Court today sought an affidavit from the Housing and Urban Development Department and Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) with regard to building permission of structures in terms of new Master Plan.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice V C Koul has sought affidavit from Principal Secretary H&UDD and Vice Chairman LCMA with regard to granting of permissions for building structures in tune with the new MP.
When the Government sought further time to apprise the court about the steps taken in this regard, the DB observed that it is faced with the resistance made by the counsel appearing for the applicants/ writ petitioners seeking clarification and permission on building of structures.
They through their counsels submitted that the court has document in the shape of Master Plan which is in tune with the scheme of the law notified by the Government after having associated and discussed the Master Plan with the people of all shades including traders, public representatives, common citizens, hotel associations etc.
Further, it was submitted that the Master Plan has been notified only after all the concerned agencies including the Town Planning Organization, Srinagar Development Authority, the experts dealing with the construction activities in the cities, the experts dealing with the sustainable and economically empowered growth of the city and the experts from other fields were associated which is evident from the preface of the Master Plan, 2035 notified on 13.02.2019.
The DB in this background, directed the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Government of J&K, to file affidavit in compliance of the directions passed by this court on 08.09.2022 and 09.11.2022 read with the today’s order in advance of the next date with copy in advance to learned Amicus.
“We further direct the Vice Chairman, J&K Lake Conservation & Management Authority, Srinagar, to file the responses to the applications/ writ petitions seeking direction for grant of permission for construction in accordance with the Master Plan and the applicable law. The replies/ responses shall be filed in advance of the next date with copy to other side”, DB directed.
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