Demonstrating its disappointment, the J&K High Court on Thursday observed that despite issuing directions aimed at preservation of the Dal Lake and other water bodies for the last 14 years, “desired results” had not been “concretised till date”.
The court, in an effort to put in place a “permanent mechanism” for the preservation of water bodies, including the Dal, and “settle the matter”, sought the presence of Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretaries of Tourism, Housing, Urban Development, Finance and Planning Departments on the next hearing.
The directions were issued by a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in public interest litigation by Syed Iqbal Tahir Gilani in 2002.
The PIL seeks preservation and conservation of the Dal Lake, famous tourist destination in the summer capital.
The court also sought presence of top bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary, on next hearing to “settle the matter”.
The petition is pending since 2002. On the last date of hearing and today also, the court as well as the Advocate General and Amicus Curie tried to evolve some solution for putting in place a permanent mechanism for preservation of water bodies, including the Dal lake, the bench observed in its orders issued on Thursday.
“For the last almost 14 years, this court has been issuing directions but the desired results have not concretised till date. It was admitted across the boards that this issue would require to be settled once and for all,” the court stated.
“It is for this reason that we direct the Chief Secretary of the state, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Housing & Urban Development Department; Commissioner Secretary to Government, Tourism Department; and Commissioner Secretary to Government, Finance and Planning Department, to remain present before the court on next date,” the court observed.
Apart from the Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretaries, the court also sought the presence of Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Government of India, on the next hearing fixed for the first week of April.
The bench in its orders further observed that “it is the constitutional duty of this court to preserve the environment”.
“It is for this reason that this PIL is pursued by this court,” it added.
HC disappointed, says 14 years on, desired results yet to be realised for preservation of Dal Lake
