Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the State Government to finalize Master Plan Srinagar (2017-2035) with utmost ‘urgency’ and place the date of notification before the Bench within three weeks.
The Court remarked that the Srinagar city has seen devastating floods in 2014 and it is necessary that Master Plan be notified and enforced as such the citizens’ life and property can be saved.
The Court observed that respondents from 16 May, 2017 when Srinagar Master Plan was drafted to this date have failed to notify the Master Plan, Srinagar. “It cannot be denied and it has to be finalized with utmost urgency so that the deluge of 2014 like incidents can be stopped,” the Court said.
Additional Advocate General (AAG) B A Dar informed the Court that the Srinagar Master Plan (SMP) has been prepared and it is only to be notified now.
Hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mujeeb Andrabi in 2013, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Alok Aradhe remarked to AAG to give us (the Court) the exact date when SMP will be notified. The Counsel admitted before the Court that he has no knowledge regarding the exact date but assured the Court that the Master Plan is in final stage for approval.
The court said: “Adjournment to place notification, let same be placed before us within three weeks,” the Division Bench directed to the State authorities.
Meanwhile, (AAG) B A Dar was directed to give a copy of status report to Counsel R A Jan for filing the response on next date of hearing.
The Court said the status report filed does not show anywhere notifying the MP for general public. “It cannot be denied”, the Court added that MP for Srinagar ought to have been finalised and notified with almost urgency but the matter is still pending.
The Court informed that the MP is being finalised and a review meeting in this regard took place in the beginning of this month with the Governor of the State.
The Court directed to place the outcome of review meeting before it within three weeks.
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