Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 17: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rattan Singh and others seeking demolition or removal of the encroachments on the water bodies /wetland reserves and other reserves, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today granted final two weeks time to the Commissioner Secrtetary, Forest and Environment for filing status report failing which he shall appear in person on April 7, 2016.
Senior Advocate M K Bhardwaj with Advocate Karan Sharma appeared for the PIL whereas Deputy AG PS Chandel for the State,
In the PIL, it has been submitted that environmentalists have blamed encroachment of the wetlands in the State especially in the valley as the main reason for the devastation of life and property in the floods.
Notwithstanding the fact that wetlands play an important role in preventing ecological catastrophe, majority of the marsh lands are not receiving any attention in J&K resulting into their continues shrinking and making the State more prone to the disasters, the petitioner said, adding height of the insensitivity towards this vital aspect can be gauged from the fact that no particular department has so far been assigned the task of conversion and preservation of these wetlands.
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