Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 20: The State High Court today held Divisional Commissioner Kashmir responsible for encroachments of State land as well as Khahcharai and conversion of agriculture land in the Kashmir valley despite its ban imposed by the court in its various directions.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation with regard to conversion of agriculture land into commercial and residential, the court was informed that the court directions passed from time to time about restraining the conversion of agriculture land and encroachments over State as well as Khahcharai land are being violated.
After these submissions from various counsels, court held Divisional Commissioner Kashmir responsible for violating the court orders and directed him to file fresh status report in this connection by next date of hearing.
“Divisional Commissioner Kashmir shall be personally responsible for implementing the court orders issued from time to time. Divisional Commissioner to file compliance report in this behalf before the next date”, directed the bench of Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey.
Court asked the registry to serve the order copy to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir for information.
Court also sought fresh status from Commissioner Secretary H&UDD with regard to steps taken for completion of Master Plan for Srinagar City.
Earlier, SDA authorities had informed the court that meeting for finalization of Master Plan for Srinagar, was convened with the officials of various stake holders like SMC, and LAWDA but failure on part of consultant agency ( SAI engineering consultants) the Master Plan for 2012-2032 has not been finalized.
Court had directed the Government to take effective steps for finalizing the draft Master Plan and also pursue SAI engineering consultants to perform their job without further delay but till today no development has been made by the authorities in completing the Master Plan for Srinagar City.
Earlier, court had issued show cause notices to seven Deputy Commissioners of Valley for not filing the compliance report regarding removing of encroachments on State land and Khahcharai land and directed the Government on construction of Satellite Township.
With regard to construction of Satellite Township, Government has already transferred land measuring 4200 Kanals situated at Rakh-i-Gund Aksha, to SDA and out of which 440 Kanals has been taken over by SDA and 797 Kanals is being taken over after verification of the same and Rs 1.60 crore has been paid to Kamas as improvement charges.
Report of SDA further states that information about 2200 Kanals of land has been submitted to Revenue Department for further verification. Court directed for effective steps for finalization of Master Plan and construction of Satellite Township.
Court also in order to prevent any encroachment in Srinagar had directed Commissioner SMC, SDA and LAWDA authorities to make sure that no illegal constructions are raised in their respective areas and warned in case authorities fail to implement court orders on ground level then action will be taken against them.
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