Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 1: High Court today directed the authorities to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) about removal of encroachments on Wular and Mansbal Lakes and the details of funds provided for its conservation.
The direction followed after the court was informed that 640 kanals of land have been encroached upon and 200 crores of rupees have been provided by the Ministry of Finance for its conservation but nothing on grounds yield results.
“We call upon the respondents to submit action-taken-report as to how 640 kanals of land have been encroached upon and as to what action the authorities have taken against such encroachments” DB directed, adding with “the respondents shall also inform the manner in which this Rs 200 crore provided is sought to be spent for the conservation and management of the Wular lake. The action-taken-report be submitted within three weeks”.
Kashmir Environmental Protection Coordination Organisation, Bandipora through its chairman has taken an initiative for the protection of the Wular lake and for the removal of all hutments and encroachment within the catchment area in and around the lake.
The issues taken up in the matter are de-weeding in Wular-Mansbal lakes, removal of encroachment on the banks of lakes, conservation and development of wular-Mansbal lakes, creation/deputation of staff under land management wing, formulation of Integrated Development Plan, Master Plan and determination of jurisdiction of Wular-Mansbal Authority and conservation and development of Wular-Mansbal lakes.
During the course of the proceedings, the Court made the Chief Executive Director, Wular Conservation and Management Authority, Ministry of Finance, New Delhi and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi, as respondents in the matter.
The Amicus Curiae has placed on record newspapers reports wherein it has been stated that 640 kanals of Wular lake have been encroached upon illegally. At the same time it has also been reported that Rs. 200 crore have been provided for the conservation and management of Wular lake.
Court in the meantime directed the respondents to ensure that no garbage from any village situated on the banks of the Wular lake is dumped into the lake area. Further it is made clear that henceforth this PIL will remain confined to the conservation, management and development of the Wular lake.
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