Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 21: High Court today warned authorities for damaging wildlife sanctuary at Hirpora Shopian while carrying out works for laying power transmission line.
The Division Bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey has been informed that the authorities have devastated the sanctuary and the species by laying transmission line and blasting its peripheries with heavy machinery.
DB after these submissions asked the authorities not to act in any manner which may cause damage to the wildlife sanctuary. “We make it clear that in the meanwhile authorities shall not act in any manner which may cause directly or indirectly any type of damage to the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctury situated in Shopian”.
Meantime, Ministry of Power has submitted its reply to the PIL and state authorities including Chief Secretary of State, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Development Commissioner Power have been asked to submit their reply on next date.
Petitioner prays for immediate steps for the conservation and preservation of Hirpora Sanctuary situated in district Shopian from illegal and unlawful blasting and heavy machinery being carried out by Sterlite Power Grid Ltd, Chief Operating Officer Uttarpradesh and Project Director Vinay Constructions for laying 400 KV transmission line from Samba to Amargarh under NRSSS project.
It is also submitted that investigation be carried in the matter and stern action be taken against the contractors engaged in laying 400 KV transmission line through Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary in violation of Apex Court directions
Sterlite Power, and its contractors, Tata Projects, have been assigned the project of laying 400KV D/C Sambha- Amargah line, which is supposed to provide power supply in Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch and Shopian.
The company was supposed to lay the power line and erect towers in the wildlife sanctuary on the condition that the work should be done manually so as to avoid damaging flora and fauna of the area.
The company had to pay a penalty of Rs 2.47 crores on the estimation done by a committee constituted by Government, but has not paid any fine and is “continuing blasting and has erected towers with the help of heavy machines.”
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