J&K High Court has directed the government to file ATR (Action Taken report) on the recommendations that were given to prevent devastating floods like 2014 in the Union Territory. The Court pulled up and directed for appearance of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir with regard to steps taken to prevent the natural calamity. Court has also expressed serious concern over what it observed as 'lackadaisical approach' of the government and concerned authorities in such a sensitive matter.
Even as the officer at the helm of affairs submitted before the High Court that the necessary information is being collated in this regard, the Court detailed report in this direction. The amicus to the PIL has submitted his recommendation and suggestions with regard to measures required to be taken to prevent the 2014 like devastating floods. The counsel representing the Government of J&K had prayed for short accommodation to examine those suggestions in order to submit the action taken report (ATR) on behalf of the Government.
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir while causing his appearance before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal virtually submitted that the suggestions and recommendations as submitted by the amicus curiae for preventing the future floods are being examined. He prayed before the court that the proceedings in the matter be deferred till Action Taken Report (ATR) is filed.
The court deferred the proceedings in the matter by four weeks with the direction to submit the ATR by or before October 28. The High Court had expressed its serious concern for lackadaisical approach by the authorities on such a sensitive issue and had sought the appearance of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir before the court.
During the proceedings of the case, the amicus to the PIL placed certain photographs revealing structures including a stadium built on the banks of water body in city Srinagar and its outskirts. He informed the court that crores of rupees have been provided and are being provided by the GoI to the UT Government on protection and preservation of water bodies but nothing is being done on ground level.
The PIL has been filed in the year 2017 relating to various issues and the measures sought to be taken to prevent any similar devastating floods, which had occurred in September, 2014.The Court, on earlier occasions, after hearing the parties passed a number of directions from time to time, highlighting the need for an immediate requirement of the demarcation of Wildlife Forests, Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, Conservation Reserves and Wet Land Reserves as concomitant steps towards the main aim of preventing floods.
The attention of the court was drawn to the order passed in the year 2017 whereby, it was directed the concerned authorities to immediately carry out demarcation of the National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and the Wetland Reserves.
It was further submitted by him that in spite of the order passed by this Court on 18.08.2017, nothing apparent has been done for demarcation of the aforesaid locations mentioned in the said order.
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