Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 14: State High Court has directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a high level committee to examine the requirement of villagers for change in the alignment of the Kahara-Jai Road falls under the jurisdiction of PWD (R&B) Bhaderwah Division.
The directions were passed in a petition filed by the residents of Joura Kalan, Budhi, Srunga, Kunthal and Lower Shamdilan villages of Thathri tehsil in Doda district.
After going through the petition, Justice Hasnain Massodi observed, “the petitioners are aggrieved with the alignment of Kahara-Jai road. Their case is that the alignment of the proposed road should be different from one decided by the PWD (R&B) Bhaderwah Division in 1987”.
“It is pointed out that if the respondents adhere to the present alignment, the road will meet the requirement of only two villages. It is also argued that in case the respondents are permitted to construct road according to the present alignment, it may involve huge cost and felling of 15,000 deodar trees”, Justice Massodi said.
With these observations, the High Court directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a high level committee comprising of Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) and Chief Engineer (PMGSY) to examine the requirement of villagers for change in alignment of the road.
“The Committee should be constituted by or before June 15, 2012 and once constituted it should submit its report/ recommendation by June 30, 2012”, the Court said, adding “till then the respondents should not proceed with the construction of road as per the alignment questioned in the petition”.
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