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| No construction within 200 metres of boundaries of Wular Lake: HC | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 5: A Division Bench of J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjay Dhar directed respondents to immediately take necessary steps for removal of the encroachments within the boundary and vicinity of Wular Lake and asked no construction activity shall be permitted or come up within 200 metres of the boundaries of the Wular Lake.
When the PIL came-up for hearing, Division Bench observed that during our site visit on 10th of October, 2020, we had observed that garbage was previously being dumped within the boundaries of the Wular Lake. Grievance regarding this was made by the applicant.
B A Dar, Sr AAG on instructions of DC, who was present, had stated that same was being done for want of land for dumping of the garbage.
Upon this Division Bench make it clear that this is no excuse at all for dumping the garbage within the identified boundaries of the Wular Lake. The respondents are bound to and shall ensure that no garbage at all is dumped within the boundaries or within such distance of the Lake as is mandated by the law as well as the International and National Protocols of the area. Every step in this regard shall be undertaken to ensure that there is no pollution of the Lake.
DB further observed that it was informed by Faizan-ul-Haq Iqbal, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Baramulla, through Video Conferencing that a Committee of the officials of the Revenue Department; Flood Control and Irrigation Departmen and the Forest Department, have identified the land in Baramulla as well as Sopore for creation of a Solid Waste landfill.
DB further directed that no obstruction shall be caused by any person to the setting up of this site. The Police Department shall ensure provision of adequate security to enable setting up of the garbage dumping sites.
DB also directed the respondents to undertake the awareness drive in the area to educate people in devising the generation of work, solid and liquid waste, as also preventing garbage dumping and littering of the area.
We are informed that the issue of setting of the lake is a huge problem. Steps for dredging are being taken to ensure the Lake's capacity.
Upon this DB observed that by orders passed in PIL No 159/2002 Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani Vs State of J&K and others, a Committee of Experts (CoE) stands constituted by us which is guiding the measures for preservation and protection of the Dal Lake. The problems regarding the Wular Lake (as also other lakes in Jammu and Kashmir) appear to be similar.
Let the Wular Lake authority identify the issues, the steps underway as well as proposed; discuss the same with the CoE and seek its guidance on the same. —JNF |
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