Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 17: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigations (PILs) highlighting various issues involving the conservation and preservation of River Tawi, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta today directed Divisional Commissioner, Director Tourism Jammu, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu to appear in person on the next date of hearing, along with the record, indicating as to what preventive measures have been initiated by them.
When the PILs filed by Advocate Dewakar Sharma and Ashish Sharma came-up for hearing, a committee constituted by the High Court filed its report wherein it is stated that the committee visited the areas of the subject matter of the instant PILs and one JCB machine was found extracting sand from the mid of the River Tawi and loading in two tractor trolleys in Bajalta area.
“Apart from tractor trolleys, tippers were also found carrying the illegally extracted sand from the river towards Nagrota. Although there is a check post of the police and a naka of Geology and Mining Department but the staff posted on the nakas seem to be in-effective in checking the illegal mining activity in River Tawi”, the committee said, adding despite total ban imposed by the High Court on the further construction activities on the banks of River Tawi, the construction of new residential houses was also found at some places”.
After hearing Senior Advocates Sunil Sethi and BS Salathia with Advocates Meenakshi Salathia and Deewakar Sharma for the PIL whereas Senior AAG SS Nanda for the State, DB took serious note of non implementation of its order.
The DB directed Divisional Commissioner, Director Tourism Jammu, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu to appear in person on the next date of hearing, along with the record, indicating as to what preventive measures have been initiated by them with regard to the subject matter.
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