Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 12: The High Court has directed the Government to inform it about the decision of Cabinet on Master Plan for famous tourist resort Gulmarg as also the extent area of Gulmarg Development Authority by next date of hearing.
Court has been informed that the draft Master Plan for Gulmarg was placed before the Cabinet which met last week and a decision has been taken that the proposal be examined by the group of Ministers on infrastructural development.
Advocate General informed the Court that the Group of Ministers is most likely to consider the proposal during this month and the decision will be placed before the Court on next date. The
Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice M K Hanjura directed for placing the decision before the Court.
Court has been also apprised about the extent area of the Gulmarg Development Authority. It is indicated in the status report of CEO GDA that the areas under the notified area limits of Gulmarg and its surrounding area to the extent of half a kilometer from boundary limits of notified area, areas falling within a kilometer on either sides of Gulmarg and some areas of Village Ferozpore in Baramulla and by virtue of SRO 61 of 2008, 26 villages were also included with the local area of GDA.
This information is based on SRO 1990 and SRO 2008 and Court desired to verify whether the position exists as on date or not for that purpose court sought revenue verification. “The limits of the villages and the extent land have to be verified from the revenue records and a map of entire area comprising the local area of GDA should be prepared and filed before this court”, CJ and Justice Hanjura directed.
For keeping the resort polythene and plastic free, court has been informed that CEO has brought out a circular on the subject of ban on use of polythene and other plastic items within the limits of GDA. It is indicated in the circular that there is a complete ban on use of these things in Gulmarg.
Court in terms of previous directions have also been informed that the officials have been deputed at both stages of cable car (Gandola) for frisking in order to ensure that nobody carry these things at the first phase of Gandola (Kangdoori) and also at 2nd phase of Gandola (Afarwat).
Besides that court directed the Commissioner /Secretary to Health that first aid centers are established at first as well as 2nd phase of cable car within a week for the visitors. Court in this regard said in case the post for these centers are to be sanctioned then the same process be initiated immediately.
Court also made it clear that while awaiting sanctioning of posts, private engagement may be made by Tourism and Cable Car Corporation so that first aid centers are setup at these places.
As regards to processing of solid waste, it has been brought to the notice of court that process for procurement of 2 metric tons biodegradable waste per day and for 1 metric ton non-biodegradable waste per day (Electronic Magnetic Disintegrator) has already been setup by GDA for which NOC from PCB is awaited.
In the issue of demarcation of forest land, it has been submitted that demarcation is being carried by demarcation and settlement division and the area is 63792 running feet (Rfts). Court expected that by next date the report about the completion of demarcation of forest land be placed before the court.
It is indicated in the affidavit that 13 marlas and 7 marlas of land has been encroached by Hotel Khyber resorts and Hotel Royal Park respectively and action is being taken for retrieving the said land from these hoteliers. Court also sought updated affidavit from GDA with regard to encroachments on Government land and State land in Gulmarg apart from forest land.
Court directed the PCB to visit the hotels of Gulmarg as to whether they are complying with the norms and if not so that these hotels be sealed. Secretary Tourism and CEO GDA have also been directed to inform the court about the segregation of waste in and around the Gulmarg.
Meanwhile, court directed the Army station at hill station to approach concerned authority (BOCA) for repairing and renovating their hutments, fencing the area and repairing of water pipes within 3 days and thereafter BOCA shall consider it within two weeks. Court observed to Army Counsel, “do the renovation but save the ecology of the resort.
Nobody is above law. You apply to concerned authority for renovations.”
CEO during proceedings of the matter submitted that Army is in excess land of possession. “Then we have to verify that” adding with “we have sympathy with you but do in accordance with law”, court further observed. To this, an Army officer who was present in the court, submitted that they are there for the last 50 years but this was not the issue till date from GDA. “If Army requires land then it should do it legally”, court further observed.
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