PIL seeking action against illegal constructions at Patnitop
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 1: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against illegal constructions at Patnitop, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sindhu Sharma today directed Chief Executive Office Patnitop Development Authority to file response in terms of order dated August 28, 2018 mentioning details of encroachments and illegal constructions within a period of two weeks failing which cost shall be imposed upon him.
The DB issued direction after hearing Advocate Amit Bhardwaj for the PIL whereas AAG FA Natnoo for the State.
In the PIL, it has been submitted that for the last more than 13 years there has been mushroom growth of hotels, guest houses and lodges which have been mostly constructed after coming into operation of the Master Plan on 25.04.2000.
“Around 70% of the buildings have been constructed on green buffer areas, forest land, State land/kahcharai land etc and the provisions and guidelines laid down in the Master Plan for Patnitop area have been violated with impunity”, the PIL said, adding “respondents have not taken any concrete action against the violations”.
It was also submitted that several structures have been raised by covering 100% of the area and even more than six floors have been constructed in blatant violation of the Master Plan.
“The respondents which are none else than the agencies of the State have failed to perform their statutory and administrative duties and have acted in an arbitrary and unconstitutional manner”, the counsel for the petitioner said, adding “the respondents in connivance with the defaulters have abused the process of law and have failed to enforce the provisions of law due to which the environment in Patnitop area has been damaged and ecological balance disturbed”.
“Even green deodar trees are being cut due to which the forest cover is depleting and ecological balance in the area has been disturbed as illegal constructions are still going on right under the nose of the concerned authorities”, the PIL said.
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