Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed government not to allow any encroachment on River Jhelum, the lifeline of Kashmir.
A division bench of Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur passed the ordered while closing a PIL alleging encroachments at Verinag which is the source of river Jhelum, and the dumping of waste in the area.
“There is already a pending PIL on encroachments on river Jhelum,” the division bench observed and closed the PIL registered on a letter to Chief Justice by an NGO- Greater Verinag Civil Society.
The court however directed the authorities not to allow encroachment on river Jhelum. Earlier Chief executive Officer of the Verinag Development Authority filed a status report, submitting that his office has not initiated any constructions within or the vicinity of the authority.
As far drainage system of the Verinag town is concerned, he said, the matter can be taken up with the UEED which has expertise in the field.
He said that the identification and action against the encroachments was within the domain of the revenue authorities and Irrigation & flood control departments respectively.
Soon after registering the latter as the PIL, the court had issued notice to J&K government through Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Secretary to Government Tourism Department and Chief Executive Officer, Verinag Development Authority, seeking their response. |
