Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 12: High Court today directed the Government to give the details of existing parks and gardens in and around the Srinagar City and till then no construction activities shall be carried out in these parks and gardens.
The HC was hearing the Public Interest Litigation which has been filed with a grievance with regard to the deficiency of adequate number of gardens and parks insofar as the city of Srinagar is concerned as also several issues concerning the condition of these Gardens and Parks.
Having gone through the Status Reports filed by various authorities in this matter, coupled with a perusal of the repeated directions passed in this case, the Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice D S Thakur directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to furnish the details of existing parks and gardens in Srinagar city and till such time no construction shall be carried out in these parks and gardens.
Court directed the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to file a detailed report furnishing therein the list of proposed new parks/ gardens apart from existing parks and gardens. “The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, shall also give details as regards any construction activity, be it completed or under completion, in the parks/ gardens”, reads the order.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has also been directed to inform the court in his report about the status of the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Srinagar, with reference to allotment of land to the J&K Cricket Association; construction activity already completed therein or under competition;
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, court added, shall also seek a report from the Director, Floriculture, Kashmir, as to how the Sher-e-Kashmir Park/ Polo Ground Park/ TRC Park/ Church Lane Park have been converted into sports stadiums and place the same before this court by the next date of hearing. “He shall ensure that no construction activity is carried out in these identified sites/ stadiums till further orders from this court”, DB directed.
“The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, shall, as and when required for ensuring implementation of the directions passed by this court qua stopping of construction work, as directed hereinabove, seek assistance of the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir”, Court said.
Advocate Syed Faisal Qadri, the Amicus Curiae in the matter has been directed to personally visit the existing parks/gardens, as well as the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium and file report about the condition of the same by the next date of hearing, alongwith his suggestion.
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