Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today expressed its displeasure and dissatisfaction over the pace of work and utilization of funds for conservation, preservation and protection of Wular Lake and asked the Attorney General of India for deputing an officer not below the rank of Assistant Solicitor General to assist the court. A Division Bench Comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed: “We request the learned Attorney General of India to depute an officer not below the status of ASG to assist this court so that the concrete results by spending the hefty amounts released by Central and State agencies are utilized in proper directions.” The court observed that the utilization of funds on various water bodies could be easily achieved in case some experts are provided to the local scientists. The Bench said: “We sadly feel that for the last many years funds have been spent on various water bodies but the magnitude of results is not matching to the funds spent and much more could be easily achieved by close monitoring by the experts.” Court also directed the Department of Environment of Central Government through National River Conservation and Management Authority to comply with the earlier directions of the court passed on August and September, 2013 and depute an expert to oversee the implementation process after examining the action plan with regard to conservation and preservation of Wular Lake. Court directed the registry to send the paper book of PIL along with all orders to the Attorney General of India so as to assist the court on next date of hearing. During arguments senior advocate and amicus Zaffar Shah made suggestion of interconnecting the all water bodies in Valley so that there is one unified plan for the utilization of funds and beautifying these water bodies.
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