Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 24: As the authorities have failed to re-establish the networking of streams, lakes, wetland with river Jhelum, High Court today directed the Chief Secretary to appoint the Nodal Officer for the networking.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey directed the Chief Secretary to appoint any of the Commissioner/ Secretary’s as Nodal Officer who would in coordination with all concerned after a concrete action plan for re-establishing of network of water bodies with River Jhelum.
Court directed the CS to complete the exercise within a weeks’ time so that the action plan for re-establishing of network be submitted before the court on next date.
Court also directed the Commissioner/Secretary Forest to complete the demarcation of wetlands within a fixed period of three months, as he assured the Court that no further extension of time be sought in this connection.
Court directed Deputy Commissioners of district Ganderbal, Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama districts to cooperate with the Commissioner/Secretary Forest for carrying out the exercise of demarcation process. Disaster Management, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction department has also submitted its report, which indicated that revised policy has been prepared and submitted to Government for approval.
Court had also sought report on updating of J&K Disaster Management policy which as per information has been notified. Copy of the revised policy has been handed over to amicus to the PIL advocate Nadeem Qadri who has been asked to submit his inputs in response to the said policy by next date.
Court on various occasions had directed the authorities to re-establish the network between the Jhelum, streams, lakes and wetlands and had sought report from all the concerned in this connection and as the authorities failed to take the said exercise to its logical conclusion, which prompted the court to appoint the nodal officer for such exercise.
Likewise the demarcation of National Parks, Wetland and Wildlife Sanctuaries and Conservation reserves court had said it needs immediate attention and had sought demarcation report now the court today directed the Commissioner/Secretary Forest (Nodal Officer) to complete the said exercise within three months positively without seeking further time from the court.
Court had made it clear that if the attitude of authorities continued of display of non serious implementation of directions, then the court may be constrained to adopt the measures which in the law they were entitled to.
With regard to constitution of State water Resources Regulatory Authority under Water Resources (regulation & Management) Act 2013, State Counsel B A Dar submitted to the court that State Water Resources Authority has been constituted which is headed by Promod Jain as its Chairman and other three members. Court has been informed that the said authority will be notified shortly.
During the proceedings of the case court has been informed that in Khudwani area in South Kashmir, police authorities have raised a police post near the stream situated there. Court, in this regard, directed for removal of the said structure itself by the authorities.
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