HC seeks satellite images of Khushalsar, Anchar

The High Court Thursday directed the government to present before it satellite images of Khushalsar and Anchar lakes.

A division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and JusticeTashi Rabstan directed the department of ecology, environment and remotesensing to present satellite images of the lakes after senior advocate ZA Shahas amicus curiae told the court that no effort has been made to have suchimages and only satellite images of Dal and Nigeen lakes have been placed onrecord. 

   

State’s senior additional advocate general BA Dar sought toplace on record the compliance report filed on behalf of the department ofecology, environment and remote sensing with regard to the mapping of thelakes.

After it was informed that the same information has beenplaced before a committee of experts, the court took the report on record.

“We shall await the views of the committee of experts withregard to the fixation of boundaries of the Dal Lake,” the court said whilehearing a Public Interest Litigation seeking conservation of the lake. 

With regard to untreated sewage flowing into Dal Lake, thecourt directed the State Pollution Control Board to take strict action againstthe establishments discharging untreated sewage into the lake.

“An action taken report shall be filed before this courtwithin three weeks from today,” the court said.

Following the submission that given the work beingundertaken by the committee of experts, the Court Monitoring Committee had beenrendered inconsequential and may be discontinued, the court said the sameappears to be fair and just.

“The Court Monitoring Committee shall stand discharged forthe time being. We appreciate the work which has been taken by this committeefor all these years,” the court said.

The court, however, appointed Abdul Rashid Malik, principaldistrict and sessions judge Srinagar as a nodal officer to monitorimplementation of all directions of the committee of experts and the court.

Malik was appointed the nodal officer given the magnitude ofworks which have been undertaken by LAWDA and the government departments andorganisations facilitating LAWDA besides carrying out the directions of thecourt and the committee of experts.

The court, however, made it clear that it is not necessaryfor Malik to appear in court unless specifically asked to.

The court directed that the copies of its orders passed, thereports of the committee of experts and the status reports filed by differentauthorities be made available to Malik to monitor implementation of the worksbeing undertaken by the authorities. 

“Malik may file his reports through the registrar judicialand seek clarifications/directions through amicus curiae already appointed,”the court said.

Meanwhile, the court directed LAWDA, SPCB, Srinagar MunicipalCorporation, the department of ecology, environment and remote sensing andrevenue department to ensure that officials conversant with the matters andcompetent to take decision are present before the committee of experts.

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