Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 21: Taking serious note about the unabated illegal constructions in and around Phalgam tourist resort, the High Court today sought map of entire Phalgam and list of illegal constructions within one week.
Court directed the authorities to submit the map of Phalgam tourist resort indicating the total area of Phalgam Development Area including Forest area as well wildlife area and sanctuaries.
Court sought the satellite map so that appropriate directions are passed upon the concerned authorities for saving the said resort from its vandalization in future at the hands of human greed.
All the officials were present including Secretaries of Revenue and Forest department Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and Chief Executive Officer of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) except Secretary Tourism.
Court also directed that no construction zone along river Lidder shall also be indicated in the map. Court also observed that list of all construction coming up in the area in contrary to law be placed before the court.
Meantime, court took serious note of non-appearance of Secretary Tourism and observed that he was the most important person in the scheme of saving Phalgam from complete commercialization and exploitation at the hands of people, who, court said, were only interested in money. Court said the reasons given for his non-appearance to them is not convincing. “We hope he will be present on next date”, court said and directed all the officials for presence on next date.
The Division Bench Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice M K Hanjura while dealing with PIL about the Protection of ecologically fragile environs of Pahalgam while giving the example of tourist place Sonmarg court observed to Advocate General that it (court) is very very concerned not only about Phalgam but in-fact other tourist places also.
“Situation in Sonmarg is alarming as buildings are coming up in meadows. Glaciers are receding and mountains are
crumbling which is a major cause of global warming. Forest area in Sonmarg has also been eaten away”, CJ observed during proceedings of the case.
Court has also observed that it wants the officials do their job honestly and any construction contrary to forest area and Master Plan be stopped as such “we want demarcation of Phalgam area in the first instance”.
The appearance of these officials was sought when petitioner counsel submitted before the Court that despite Court directions illegal constructions are being allowed in and around the prohibited area of Pahalgam. With these submission, court observed that these illegal constructions should be removed immediately.
Court has banned all constructions within 200 meters from Nallah Lidder and had asked the Government to decide about the old constructions which were already there as to whether these constructions will be relocated or not.
The Government, it may be mentioned, here had finalized revised Master Plan of entire Pahalgam area which was based on the recommendations of the expert committee under the directions of the Court and thereafter presented it before court to which some queries were raised like clarification with regard to wildlife zone, forest area, etc.
The inclusion of zones have been done only after the court rejection of the status report of Tourism and Culture Department with the observation that the same is not in tune with the directions and issues which are supposed to be dealt with.
It was proposed that in the revised Master Plan among other issues an action plan for solid waste management, sewage disposal and water supply be prepared for the entire local area of Pahalgam including the existing village settlements.
As such a committee was constituted by Government to prepare the revised draft Master Plan to incorporate suggestions of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) team which was constituted on directions of the court.
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