*Directs establishment of Police Post for assistance
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 7: Perturbed over the report that world famous Gharana wetland is shrinking at a rapid pace and may completely vanish in few years if immediate steps are not taken, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today issued various directions to different agencies for initiating corrective measures.
The directions were passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rattan Singh and others seeking demolition or removal of the encroachments on the water bodies /wetland reserves and other reserves within the State and their restoration to original form
It is pertinent to mention here that on the directions of the High Court, Court Commissioners visited Gharana wetland in the recent past and accordingly submitted a detailed report mentioning that if immediate steps are not taken Gharana wetland will completely vanish in next few years.
After hearing Senior Advocate M K Bhardwaj with Advocate Karan Sharma for the PIL and going through report submitted by Court Commissioners, the DB directed that a Police Post be established at Gharana wetland which would assist the officials of the Wild Life Department in taking various measures for preserving the wetland.
“The officers of the Police Post would assist the officials of the subordinate Revenue Agency to demarcate the land in terms of the report of the then SDM R S Pura bearing No.SDMR/Gharana/ 267/2009 dated 30.07.2009 and would also assist for demarcation of 97.17 kanals of land as is being recommended as short term measures”, the DB further directed.
The Division Bench said, “the Wild Life Department manages only a small area of about 20 to 25 kanals of wetland which is visited by the migratory birds. Since the revenue record reveals that 97.17 kanals of lands is recorded as “Chapper” (Wetland), as such, the Revenue Department is directed to forthwith demarcate and delineate the boundaries of 97.17 kanals of chapper so that Wild Life Department can manage the area as per the Wild Life Management Practices and attempt of the villagers trying to encroach the wetland by throwing garbage and extending the boundaries of the agricultural land during dry season, could be thwarted”.
Division Bench further observed, “since the wetland is being drained with waste water of nearby households, dumping of cow dung, agricultural waste etc, the concerned Block Development Officer of the Rural Development Department is directed to construct drains and soaking pits in order to prevent waste water entering the wetland”.
The High Court further said that the Block Development Officer of the Rural Department shall also see that the villagers do not drain out the water from the wetland through a channel, which, otherwise, is repeatedly stopped by the officials of the Wild Life Department by blocking the drain with sand bags. “For this, police personnel to be deployed at Police Post at Gharana Wetland shall assist the Block Development Officer”, the DB added.
“Lowering of the depth of the water and drying of the wetland would ultimately lead to shrinkage and death of the wetland and thus leading to destruction of the eco-system”, the DB observed and directed Deputy Commissioner Jammu to take coercive measures in-coordination with the other authorities so that the efforts and management of the Wild Life Department in protecting the wetland are not negated.
“Needless to state that the Divisional Commissioner shall ensure implementation of order after interaction with various departments”, the DB added.
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