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| HC upset over encroachments in Dal | | | Srinagar, Oct 13 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has expressed serious concern over the encroachments at the world famous Dal lake and reprimanded the Lakes And Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) for being ignorant about them.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmed Kirmani, directed the authorities to demolish the illegal structures and fence the Dal lake from all sides to save it from further encroachments.
The Bench expressed resentment over encroachments near the left side of Saida Kadal in the Nigeen lake and within the Dal lake. ''It is shocking to see that the left side of Saida Kadal has been eaten by weeds and encroachments. The LAWDA does not know,'' it observed.
The court asked LAWDA vice-chairperson Tanveer Jehan to explain her position on the matter to which she said that it was not part of the Lake Conservation Programme and the constructions had taken place prior to 2004.
For two years, the Bench said the LAWDA had failed to take any action against these encroachments and directed it to conduct a survey of the Dal lake and fence it after demarcation.
''At least let us save what is left of, it the court noted.
It also directed a high-level committee led by the state Chief Secretary to decide the type of fencing and the executing agencies.
The LAWDA submitted a report of the committee on illegal constructions from Boulevard to Nishat and also informed the court that 363 structures were identified from Nehru Park to Nishat out of which only few had obtained permission.
The Bench directed that final notices be issued to owners of these structures before demolition to give them a chance to file objections. ''If they fail yet again, bulldoze their structures.'' About 70 illegal structures opposite the Boulevard road, the court directed the LAWDA to demolish these after Eid-ul-Fitr if the Dal lake dwellers fail to do so themselves.
The LAWDA chief informed the court that 26 major drains flow into the Dal lake and more STPs will be constructed to tap them.
It also expressed concern over the growth of stems of trees which were felled by the State Forest Corporation (SFC) earlier this year and directed the LAWDA to explore a viable mechanism in consultation with other departments to get the stems removed.
The court lauded the efforts of dwellers in cleaning the Dal lake and directed the LAWDA to utilise their services in the ongoing 'Save Dal' campaign.
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