Expressing dismay over government’s dilatory approach to implement its directions on preservation of Sonmarg health resort, the High Court on Thursday sought a comprehensive status report in the matter.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice M K Hanjura asked the authorities concerned to file a comprehensive status report on all aspects of the matter in keeping with its earlier orders.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation titled Court on its own motion versus state of Jammu and Kashmir and others.
Additional advocate general M A Beigh sought time to file the status report. The case was listed for May 9.
In its earlier orders, the court had directed for finalizing of environment impact assessment (EIA) report and environment impact management plan (EIMP) for Sonmarg.
It had also directed Sonamarg Development Authority to ban vehicular movement on the Sonamarg-Thajiwas road stretch.
The court had directed state pollution control board to file a report on pollution of air and water at Sonamarg and the manner in which effluents and sewage are treated there.
The court had also directed SPCB to submit status report attesting solid waste management, water quality as well as ambient air quality of Sonamarg.
In order to prevent flow of untreated sewage into the river Sindh, the court had asked the chief executive officer (CEO) Sonamarg Development Authority to ensure setting up of a proper sewage treatment plant in the hill station.
Moreover, with regard to solid wastes, the court had directed the CEO to ensure that there is proper waste disposal.
Reiterating its directions on use of polythene at the health resort, the court had said the ban on the polythene and plastic be implemented in letter and spirit.
The court had directed the SDA to submit maps of the areas that needed to be identified for parking of vehicles on the left side of the Sonamarg- Leh highway as also of the area where the ponies would be available for taking tourists and visitors on the pony trail.
The court had said the area where the ponies would be available should also be maintained properly for proper sanitation.
While the court has banned all constructional activities at the resort, it has ordered that waste be treated and efforts made to make Sonamarg a ‘no polythene zone’.
Meanwhile, the court granted two more weeks to army to file response to the petition seeking demolition of a High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) being set up by it without permission in Sonamarg.
The court granted the time after assistant solicitor general Tahir Shamsi made a submission in this regard.
The Sonamarg Development Authority through its CEO has filed the petition and contended that HAWS is being raised unauthorisedly and without permission from BOCA at Nilgrath in Sonamarg by the Army.