Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 22: The High Court today directed the authorities to ensure that no construction is carried out within the peripheries of Sonamarg tourist resort till further orders from this court and also sought map of the area which falls under Sonamarg Development Authority.
“We have noticed that constructions are taking place in Sonamarg. We direct that no construction shall be carried out till further orders”, DB directed.
The orders have been passed in a petition on illegal construction on the banks of river Sindh. The petition was filed by an advocate and court has observed that in wake of alarming condition of Sonamarg the instant petition is treated as suo moto proceedings taken by the court in order to save the resort before it become a concrete jungle.
On asking that who has given permission for these constructions, Court has been apprised by Advocate General that the then Chief Executive Officer of Sonamarg Development Authority, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, has granted these permissions.
Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey said that reports of indiscriminate and unauthorized constructions in Sonamarg have reached this Court and directed the Registry to array CEO-SDA, Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir and Divisional Forest Officer Sindh as party respondents to this PIL and notice issued to them were accepted in open court by their respective State Counsels.
Court has adjourned the matter for two weeks and till then directed the CEO-SDA to file the map of Sonamarg area before the Court. Court also directed the authorities to submit the Master Plan of Sonamarg which as per the information given the AG has been put into effect since 2007.
Court took serious note of reports of constructions in and around the tourist resort and sought complete geographical details from concerned officials of whole Sonamarg area, whether it is forest area, wildlife area or proper Sonamarg resort.
Court further directed the Regional Wildlife Warden to submit the report indicating the wildlife area as also DFO Sindh has been directed to inform the Court about the forest area of Sonamarg in shape of status report.
Court also sought a complete status report from the authorities indicating as to what action has been taken in protecting Sonamarg. “The concerned also state as to whether any construction has taken place on the banks of river Sindh”, Court order said.
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