Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 18: The High Court today directed the authorities for taking effective steps for removal of encroachments and unauthorized constructions from all the parks and green spaces and submit the period reports with regard to the progress of the work of Divisional Level Committees (DLC) of Jammu and Srinagar for preparing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mapping of parks and gardens in both cities.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar hearing the PIL in connection with the open and green space especially in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar, directed that the authorities will take effective steps in accordance with law for the removal of all encroachments or unauthorized constructions from all parks and green spaces and ensure that no construction in the vicinity is raised
Court directed the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to consider the feasibility of having at least a quarterly meeting of all the authorities responsible for maintaining and developing various parks and gardens including the heritage gardens so as to coordinate their working and to record the minutes thereof for submission before the court, if necessary. “The Divisional Commissioner, Srinagar, as well as Jammu are directed to submit periodical reports with regard to the progress of the work of the Divisional Level Committees constituted vide order dated 14.09.2018”, the DB directed
The Divisional Level Committees for Jammu as well as Srinagar were constituted for preparing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mapping of Parks/ Garden in both Jammu and Srinagar cities. Court further directed that the authorities would undertake construction of sufficient washrooms and toilets at appropriate places to be earmarked by some expert in each of the parks and to construct proper pathways wherever feasible.
“We direct that to minimize illegal activities allegedly being carried out in some of the parks/ open spaces to ensure that all boundary walls/ reeligns of the parks be kept transparent so that people from outside can have an eye on the activities inside”, the Court directed.
It has further been directed that no construction be carried out in all the parks and open spaces and green space in line with the earlier directions of the court, which earlier had directed that till further orders from the Court, no construction activity shall be carried out in the existing Parks and Gardens in and around the vicinity of Srinagar City.
Court in order to achieve the purpose of the PIL prohibited the use of plastic and plastic material in all the existing parks and green spaces and directed all the authorities maintaining those parks to see that no such plastic or plastic material is thrown in the parks and green spaces except in the dustbins which shall be cleared periodically.
While passing these directions, the court is of the view that much more is required to be done first for the maintenance and development of the parks in existence and then for establishing new parks and green spaces. Court on perusal of the report of the amicus curiae filed on July 27 said that some of the parks are well maintained whereas many of them are in very poor shape.
The response as well as the action taken report filed on behalf of the Director Floriculture stated that there are about 361 parks and gardens in Srinagar, out of which 109 parks and 8 gardens total 117 are maintained by the Floriculture Department; 51 by the Srinagar Development Authority, 29 by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, 93 by the Jammu & Kashmir Housing Board (Unit I & II), 24 by the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control and 47 by the PWD (R&B).
One of the reports of the Director, Floriculture revealed that a sufficient number of dustbins have been placed in all parks maintained by it and one of the reports disclosed that 64.17 lakhs were released for the maintenance of various parks. The Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department has also submitted a report and a draft action plan.
At the same time, the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir, vide his status report has indicated that as per the standards prescribed 570.5 hectares of land in Srinagar is needed for parks and green spaces whereas presently only 242.63 hectares is available.
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