Examine possibility of declaring Dal lake as eco-sensitive zone: HC to government

The High Court has directed the government to examine the possibility of declaring Dal lake area formally as eco sensitive zone’ under the Environment Protection Act. 

A division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and JusticeTashi Rabstan asked the Secretary Forest and Environment department to place areport in this regard before the court appointed Committee of Experts (COE)within four weeks.

   

 The direction camefollowing the suggestions by the members of COE – Elattuvalapil Sreedharan, DrNivedita P Haran, Dr  Mangu Singh and MrM C Mehta- who were present in the court.    

 “We have had also thebenefit of a detailed power point presentation by the experts,” the bench said.On consideration of the submissions made by the COE, the court issued severaldirections. 

The court directed the Secretary Department of Tourism toexamine the suggestions of COE for developing the Dole Demb as a TouristCentre, saying the measures suggested by the expert panel in this regard shallbe seriously examined and report submitted to It (COE). 

Over the frequent changes in the appointment of Vice Chairman LAWDA within last six months aspointed out by COE, the court observed that the work being undertaken by LAWDAis of extremely serious nature. “We request the Chief Secretary to look intothe matter of appointment of Vice Chairman, LAWDA, who would be an officer ofsufficient seniority and experience on a continuous tenure”.   

The court also directed the Surveyor General of India,Survey Office Dehradun, to undertake a survey of the Dal Lake, examine allavailable maps and draw linkage to existing revenue maps and place a reportregarding the demarcation of the boundary of the lake.

“Such exercise be completed within four weeks from the dateof receipt of copy of this order”.

 The court said itshall be the responsibility of the Secretary Revenue to place all availablemaps and the revenue maps available with the Surveyor General of India withinone week.

 The State Governmentand LAWDA, it ordered, shall facilitate examination of the boundaries to beundertaken by the Surveyor General of India.

” LAWDA shall submit an inventory of the land owned by it tothe Committee of Experts as well as measures which would be undertaken toprotect the same”. 

Moreover the court directed the State Government toformulate a proper policy for rehabilitation of the Dal Dewllers. “This matterbe examined by the Chief Secretary of the State and a report in this regard bealso placed before the Committee of Experts at the earliest”.

 The court also soughta report from Department of Tourism of the State as well as LAWDA regarding theunregistered house boats in the Dal Lake and the manner in which they would beremoved.

 Meanwhile the courtaccepted the recommendations made by the Committee in its 5th Report anddirected all the authorities to take prompt and expeditious steps to implementthe same.

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