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| Save Jhelum: HC serves notices to 50 engineers, seeks fortnightly status report from authorities | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 13: In a significant order, the Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey issued notices to more than fifty engineers, who were responsible for maintaining and preserving Padshahi canal from 1990 asking why they should not deposit Rs 25 lakh each with state treasury for preserving water bodies.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), a Division Bench also directed authorities to file fortnightly status report about the removal of encroachments from Jhelum.
"We are prima facie satisfied that there has been absolute dereliction of duty and connivance of the concerned engineers with the encroachers, which has resulted in near extinction of the Padshahi canal," the Division Bench said, further adding, "the court's efforts to preserve and protect the water bodies will not bear fruits until such time, the officers who are in position at the moment learn to respect the laws."
The Division Bench also observed some stringent action was required to be taken against those who remained posted in the areas through which Padshahi canal runs.
Meanwhile issuing show cause notices to all 50 engineers, court sought explains from them why they shall not be directed to deposit Rs 25 lakhs each in the state treasury which amount would be spent for preserving and protecting the water bodies and for restoring them to their original width. It also asked the engineers to file their response to the notices by August 6.
The court also directed its registry to issue non-bailable warrants if those engineers who have not filed personal affidavits does to comply the order within a week.
"Unfortunately, because of the insatiable human greed of some amongst us are hell bent to destroy all that nature has given to us," the bench observed, adding that Kashmir's water bodies have shrunk because of the encroachments. Meanwhile, the court directed authorities to file fortnightly status reports about the removal of encroachments from water bodies including the Jhelum.
The directions was passed by the court after going through a status report filed by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, giving details about the measures including felling of trees and removal of structures which were raised on the banks of the canals and rivers passing through or existing in the southern Kashmir district.
The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag also gave an undertaking that within three to four months all the encroachments will be removed from Jhelum and other water bodies.
It was after his submissions, the Division Bench granted him respite of three months time to remove all the encroachments. Court also said that Deputy Commissioner Pulwama shall give the details in the manner Deputy Commissioner Anantnag has been directed. |
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