Early Times Report
Jammu, July 17: In a much publicized Public Interest Litigations filed by Advocate Dewakar Sharma & Ashish Sharma highlighting various issues involving the conservation/preservation of River Tawi, in which State High Court already banned any construction on bank of River Tawi and mining from river Tawi, a Committee constituted by the State High Court filed its report wherein it is stated that the Committee visited the areas of the subject matter of the instant PILs, wherein it was found that one JCB Machine was found extracting sand from the mid of the River Tawi and loading in two Tractor Trolleys in Bajalta Area. Apart tractor trolleys, tippers were also found carrying the illegally extracted sand from the river towards Nagrota. Although there is a check post of the police and a naaka of Geology and Mining Department but the staff posted on the naakas seem to be in-effective in checking the illegal mining activity in River Tawi.
It was also found that despite total ban imposed by the High Court on the further construction activities on either side of the bank of River Tawi, the construction of new residential houses was also found in progress at some places.
A Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta after hearing Sr. Advs Sunil Sethi & BS Salathia with Advocates Meenakshi Salathia, Deewakar Sharma for the PIL whereas Sr. AAG SS Nanda appearing for the State, took serious note for not implementing the order of the State High Court and directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Director Tourism Jammu, Commissioner Municipality Jammu, Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department Jammu & Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu to appear in person before this Court on the next date of hearing, along with the record, indicating as to what preventive measures have been initiated by them with regard to the subject matter. |
