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| HC orders demolition of constructions around water bodies | | |
Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Aug18; The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state government to implement the recommendations of the committee appointed by the court on conservation and preservation of water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Directing the government to demolish all illegal constructions in and around Khushwansar and Sheikhsar in Bandipora district, the Court said possibilities should be explored for associating an expert agency for restoring the lakes to their original beauty.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray also directed the authorities to implement the recommendations of a committee, appointed by the court to look after in the case. Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), the court has fixed next hearing on September 9.
The committee in its report said the revenue department needs to demarcate the area of lakes and should ban totally any type of constructions near them. It also recommended that the water level of around two meters need to be maintained in these water bodies and the pumping needs to be regulated so that minimum water level is maintained.
Besides, a survey needs to be carried out for locating sources of fresh water from where water can be brought into them during lean periods. Since major portion of water bodies is a wetland, it needs to be preserved, the panel added. Lastly, plantations whether in the form of salix, willows and poplar trees and others near the area need to be uprooted immediately. The court said, "We also suggest that Signal Transfer Points (STPs) be installed in order to ensure that no effluent is discharged into the lakes. "We further direct that no further construction in these areas is allowed and if anybody is found raising construction illegally then the same shall be demolished without loss of time," the court said.
The court added that a report, exploring the possibility of associating any expert agency for the purposes of restoring the Lakes to their original beauty, should be submitted. |
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