Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 5: The High Court today banned any fresh constructions in tourist resort of Pahalgam after large scale illegal constructions.
The Division Bench Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey while dealing with PIL about the protection of ecologically fragile environs of Pahalgam from further destruction and damage directed that all constructions in impermissible areas shall be frozen and no further construction shall be allowed even though in permissible areas.
Court has also directed for approval of revised draft Master Plan for the resort and directed that Master Plan of Pahalgam shall also take care of existing structures of both in wildlife and forest area.
Court also directed that no further construction shall be allowed within the permissible area and if any repair or renovation of existing structures is required that shall be strictly in accordance with law and in tune with Master Plan.
DB has also directed for launching of separate website for wildlife sanctuary in Pahalgam and in this regard Court referred to an example of Gulmarg sanctuary so that the people are made aware about the species as also those which are endangered in the said sanctuary.
Court also directed for putting the latest census of wildlife on website and for the said purpose granted four weeks time to authorities to complete the same.
Court has also taken into consideration the issue of garbage in and around the resort and directed the authorities to take care of the said issue and save the resort from pollution.
Secretary Revenue and Secretary Tourism, who were present, informed the court that 2 million letter sewage is generated per day from different sources and the same is treated. Court emphasized for making policy for garbage disposal.
Advocate General has informed the Court that demarcation of different zones like forest zone, wildlife zone, construction zone, non-construction zone etc will take some time.
Court granted 4 weeks time for the same and directed for putting the said demarcation on website of Pahalgam Development Authority, DC Anantnag and Tourism department’s website.
The appearance of officials was sought when petitioner counsel submitted before the court that despite court directions illegal constructions are being allowed in and around the prohibited area of Pahalgam.
It is mentioned here that court has banned all constructions within two hundred meters from Nallah Lidder and had asked the Government to decide about the old constructions which were already there as to whether these constructions will be relocated or not.
Court has been apprised that in the revised Master Plan of Pahalgam clarification of zones have been included as construction and non-construction zones on either sides of the river. Besides that Forest area zone, wildlife area zone and boundaries of the Pahalgam resort have also been mentioned in the Master Plan.
The Government, it may be mentioned, had finalized revised master plan of entire Pahalgam area which was based on the recommendations of the expert committee under the directions of the Court and thereafter presented it before court to which some queries were raised like clarification with regard to wildlife zone, forest area, etc.
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