Srinagar, July 11:  Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the J&K Government to stop constructions along River Sindh in Kangan area of Ganderbal district if such constructions are going on in the area.
 A division bench of High Court comprising the Chief Justice M. M. Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi passed the direction after counsel for the petitioners, Q R Shamus—defending the Public Interest Litigation seeking directions for a curb on the illegal constructions along the river Sindh—pleaded that the constructions along river Sindh are going on unabated in violation of the High Court orders.
 The High Court had on June 10, 2011 directed the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal and Chief Execrative Officer Sonamarg Development Authority to ensure that no illegal constructions are allowed in the prohibited area along river Sindh.
 The court in the latest order directed the respondents to file a report on the ongoing constructions that have been coming up in the area in keeping with government permission.
 The report should also indicate the action taken against the constructions being made without permission or in violation of law and other details of such constructions, the Court held.
  “If any excavation, big or small is being carried out, it may be regulated in accordance with law” the court said.
 The court made it clear that the Tribunal shall not pass any orders regarding the issues covered by the Public Interest Litigation on the River Sindh.  It said the Objections by any citizen may also be filed.
 The petitioner alleged in the PIL that structures were founded on the river bed at three places— Mamar, Murgund and Kangan in violation of various statutes.
 According to the PIL, water is getting polluted and if immediate steps for retrieving river from encroachments and removing illegal constructions were not taken, the river would face an irreparable loss.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST