Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 16: High Court today directed the Pahalgam Development Authority to submit the mapping with regard to plantation of 6000 coniferous trees in and around the tourist resort.
The direction followed after the Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority informed the Court that in the first week of April this year more than 6000 conifer plants have been planted in and around Pahalgam out of the total of 7500 plants received from the Forest Department.
Division Bench while hearing the PIL on protection and preservation of environs of Pahalgam tourist resort directed to give the mapping of the plantation of 6000 coniferous trees.
DB has been informed that remaining quota of plants will be planted in Aru Valley in Pahalgam after the melting of snow.
In continuation of previous direction court has been informed by the Hotel Grand Mumtaz Resort Pahalgam through its counsel that certain saplings distributed by the Pahalgam Development Authority for plantation in and around Pahalgam have been received from the Forest Department.
It was suggested that the plantation was a compensatory measure for the trees which were destructed and formed the subject matter of consideration in the contempt petition.
But the petitioner counsel submitted that the information provided by the respondents are not to be accepted inasmuch as even if they have planted any tree, still the same have not been maintained or preserved which has resulted in the wilting of the most of saplings as per the available reports.
“In view thereof, direction is issued to the respondent to place on record a copy of site plan and the mapping of the places where the saplings have been planted”, DB directed.
In order to find out the ground reality on the issue court appointed two lawyers namely Arifa Jan and Rizwan Bhat as Commissioners in the matter so that the actual position with regard to plantation of thousands of trees as claimed by PDA is correct or not.
“Official respondents shall ensure that the geographical mappings of the conifer trees on a site plan are made available to the Local Commissioners within one week from today”, DB directed.
Court directed these Commissioners to visit the spots marked on the site plan by the official respondents and submit a report to this Court with regard to correctness of the site plan as well as the condition/status of planted saplings and report the court within two weeks. “The Local Commissioners shall be paid an amount of Rs. 25000 each by Hotel Grand Mumtaz Resort, Pahalgam”, reads the direction.
Court put the responsibility on the Hotel Grand Mumtaz Resorts, Pahalgam for ensuring availability of appropriate conveyance and also made it clear that the actual secretarial expenses incurred by the Local Commissioners on photography, typing etc. which shall also be borne by Hotel Grand Mumtaz Resorts, Pahalgam.
About the information on receipt of application for building permission online Court has been informed that the process is under active consideration with the National Informatic Center and the proposed financial outlay of Rs. 9.60 lakhs in the first phase as projected by the NIC is pending consideration with the Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, J&K Tourism Department.
“Let this Authority examine the proposal and pass orders thereon positively within two weeks from today,” read the order.
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