The High Court on Tuesday directed Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA) of Sonamarg to expeditiously give its comments on draft report of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Sonamarg Master Plan (2017) and submit the same within two weeks to the concerned authority.
A division bench of Chief justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey directed the BOCA to give its comments on the draft report after it was informed that the report has been placed before the authority for its comments.
The court ordered that the matter be placed before the concerned authorities for revisiting the master plan, if necessary after BOCA will give its comments.
While the draft report was today placed before the bench, it ordered that a copy of the report be given to the Amicus Curie, Nadeem Qadri so that he would file submissions on the next date of hearing after perusing the report.
Hearing the Public Interest Litigation on its own motion seeking preservation of Sonamarg environs, the court directed the state Pollution Control Board (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 Sindh River, the court asked 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 directed the CEO to ensure that there is proper waste disposal.
Reiterating its directions on carrying polythene to the health resort, the court said the ban on the polythene and plastic be implemented in letter and spirit.
The court directed the SDA to submit maps of the areas that need 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.
While the court urged that the maps be prepared and submitted on next date of hearing, it said the area where the ponies would be available should also be maintained properly for proper sanitation.
The directions came after the CEO informed the court that vehicular traffic on the right side of SDA been stopped and pony trails have been designated. The High court has already banned all constructional activity in Sonamarg.
