The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday sought a report from Mansbal Development Authority for preservation and protection of Mansbal Lake in Ganderbal district.
A bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice TashiRabstan also ordered Chief Executive officer (CEO) Mansbal DevelopmentAuthority (MDA) to ensure no constructions were permitted in the area contraryto the master plan and the byelaws in vogue.
The court asked the officer to report by May 24constructions which have come up illegally in the area on the next date ofhearing.
The court order came after advocate Nadeem Qadri whilemaking submissions in the Public Interest Litigation by Environment PolicyGroup (EPG) that seeks directions for solid waste management in J&K.
Qadri requested the court to take on record a documentprepared by him about the initiatives to save the precious water body ofMansbal which included photographs.
Observing that perusal of the documents and photographsreveal that the in charge authorities were not taking any effective steps forpreservation and protection of the lake, the court said, “We deem it proper toinclude the subject with the present PIL by taking on record the document.”
After impleadingChief Executive Officer Mansbal Development Authority as party in the PIL, thecourt issued notice to the body and asked Additional Advocate General M.A.Chashoo to file a response before next date of hearing.
Advocate Shafqat Nazir appeared on behalf of EPG.