Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 29: High Court has sought a brief synopsis and summary from the parties reflecting therein all the rules and regulations pertaining to the Gulmarg tourist resort by next date of hearing.
Hearing the PIL on protection and conservation of the resort, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Puneet Gupta has sought a brief synopsis on the issues involved in the PIL from GDA and amicus to the PIL in order to pass a detailed order for protection and preservation of the tourist resort Gulmarg from encroachments, pollution, demarcation of land, expiry of lease etc.
The bench has further directed that while submitting the synopsis the parties shall also disclose the validity of the Master Plan of the resort by or before the next date of hearing. It is noted here that the court has previously warned for strict action in case undue advantage of court orders under the garb of allowing minor repairs of hotels and hutment structures in tourist resort Gulmarg is done by the hoteliers.
It is already made clear by the court that if any authority had deliberately prevented the implementation of the court’s order, necessary consequences will visit the concerned officials. It seems that the court may close the PIL with detailed orders as such has sought brief synopsis on regulations and Master Plan of the resort in vogue.
Court has also made it clear that the order of renovation or repair by this court, will not be used while considering the claim for continuation or extension of lease. Any deviation will be brought to the notice of court, if Gulmarg Development Authority is able to substantiate its claim and in that event, court will take a serious view against the deviations made against its orders and pass appropriate order for demolition of such structures.
It is apt to mention here that the court had directed the Government to frame a policy in order to address and resolve the slew of issues of famous tourist resort Gulmarg and inform the court with a comprehensive report regarding all the issues.
The policy was directed to be framed in respect of hotels and hutments and other structures existing in and around Gulmarg Bowl having come up either with or without permission of the authorities and are requiring repairs and maintenance on account of harsh weather conditions during winter of these structures.
With regard to cases where lease has expired and hotels and huts and other structures are existing thereupon, the court had directed the authorities to inform it as to whether Government proposes to extend lease in such cases.
The comprehensive report was sought that as to whether any area is clearly earmarked and demarcated for raising of construction of hotels, huts and structures and the manner and method the said unbuilt areas have to be dealt with.
Formulation of a vision document based on the considerations like Environment, Forest Lands, average number of tourists visiting in Gulmarg, existing hotels with bed capacities, sanitation, installation of bio digesters etc was supposed to be prepared by the GDA.
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