Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 27: High Court has asked the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to come up with a plan for construction of a Ring Road around the Dal lake as well as widening of the existing roads and the parking facilities.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, had also directed the authorities to consider enhancement of the capacity of the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) or establishment of new ones.
During the hearing of the PIL, Vice Chairman LAWDA, Bashir Ahmad and Shabir Panth, Law Officer, were present in the court.
The Division Bench directed them to come out with a plan with regard to construction of the Ring Road all around the lake, widening of the existing roads and the parking facilities.
“They may also consider the enhancement of the capacity of the STP plants or establishment of new plants at the location which may not affect the Dal Lake itself,” the court said. Meanwhile, LAWDA filed a compliance report regarding scheme for the management and development of the Dal lake.
The court ordered that a copy of the report may be supplied to the Amicus Curiae, senior advocate Zaffar Shah, so that he may go through it and assist the Court as to whether the scheme needs any modification, improvement or addition of any material subject.
In April, the High Court put an end to the work of Committee of Experts (CoEs) who were appointed to oversee and supervise the affairs the development of Dal lake and had directed the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to handle all the issues pertaining to the water body.
These directions had been passed after the court found that the various Committees which have been formed earlier are not of much use at present and that when a development authority has especially been created and established for the purpose the entire responsibility, court said, should be shifted upon it and the authority (LAWDA) alone should be allowed to work out a broad scheme for solving all the problems as highlighted above in connection with the Dal.
The court had directed LAWDA to draw a complete scheme for the management and the development of the Dal as well as the area around it in co-association with the various departments.
The Vice Chairman, the Court had directed, shall survey and prepare a list of all the drains that are flowing into the Dal and take immediate steps to stop them as well as discharge of the untreated effluents into it.
“An exercise may also be undertaken to find out if the waste material from any houseboat is being discharged into the lake and if so, to take measures to stop it or to divert it to some alternative place”, the court had directed.
With regard to the seizure of those vehicles which are found to be entered within the prohibited area of the lake with construction material, the court had said that the Section 188 do not specifically provides for the seizure and therefore the seizure is only on account of the directions given by this Court in the present PIL.
Court had entrusted the release of such vehicles to concerned Magistrate and directed that all such applications be filed before the concerned Magistrate who is dealing or is supposed to deal with the investigation pursuant to the relevant FIR.
Court had also made it clear that such vehicles shall not be released without asking for security of Rs 50,000 in the case of first offence and Rs. one lakh in the case of second offence from the violator.
The Court had said if such vehicle is found to be commission of offence for the third time, the vehicle shall not be released until and unless the final report is submitted and accepted.
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