Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 2 : High Court has deferred the orders of repairing and construction of Hotels, Huts and Integrated tourist resorts categories till filing of final report on proposed availability of plinth area for such categories
The Division Bench of Chief Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice M A Chowdhary has said that definite order of allowing or not allowing for repair and construction of these categories can be done only after obtaining the final comprehensive report in the regard by the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA)
When the matter was taken up for hearing the SDA counsel has brought to the notice of the Court on the basis of response filed by the Chief Executive Officer SDA that as regards accommodation of two categories i.e. Hotels and (II) Huts & integrated tourist resorts in the chart.
It appears from the response of the CEO that as regards Hotels, the proposed area as per Master Plan in hectares is 8.87 and the proposed plinth area would be 5.26 hectares and out of which already 3.25 hectares of plinth area has been consumed, thus leaving the plinth area of 1.98 hectares for category-I i.e., Hotels.
As regards to II-category i.e., Huts and Integrated tourist resorts, it appears that the proposed area as per the Master Plan for accommodation is 26.20 hectares and to the said category of accommodation nothing has been indicated as to the proposed plinth area available or the consumed plinth area for Huts & Integrated tourist resorts.
“Under the circumstances, we are of the view that it may not be appropriate for us to pass any definitive order allowing or not allowing the various applications filed for repairing/construction of Hotels, Huts and Integrated tourist resorts, which can be done only after obtaining the final and comprehensive report from the SDA”, DB recorded.
Court in the meantime said that the Building Operations Control Authority (BOCA) Sonamarg, may proceed with the various applications pending before it and consider the same strictly in accordance with the Master Plan and the available area as reflected in the records.
“However, any permission, if granted by the BOCA, will be implemented only after being permitted by this Court after hearing all the concerned parties and considering the various aspects involved in the matter”, the Court clarified.
Court has also sought response as regards the serious threat to environment and unregulated traffic management because of the large number of local Taxis (commercial) operating in the Sonamarg area.
The Government Counsel while appearing for the respondents submits that Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Ganderbal may be directed to file response as he will be in a better position to regulate the traffic in the area.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
