Demarcate Dal and Nigeen lakes: High Court

Srinagar, Oct 17: Concerned over the unabated illegal constructions in the famed Dal and Nigeen lakes despite a ban, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities to undertake fencing and demarcation of territorial limits of the two lakes.

Meanwhile, the court has given 18 days to people still living in and around both the lakes to file their response and objections, if any, or remove their illegal and unauthorised encroachments.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani said demarcation of territorial limits of the both the lakes was necessary to ensure the effective implementation of various schemes aimed at rescuing the two lakes.

The court order came on a PIL titled Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani v/s State and others.

The bench said several complaints have been received about the unabated illegal encroachments in the areas falling within the Dal and Nageen lakes under the Lakes And Waterway Development Authorities (LAWDA) and about the arbitrary manner in which this problem and the grant of building permissions and the demolitions were being undertaken in the absence of any demarcated boundaries between the two lakes.

All this was becoming a tool of exploitation resulting in manifold suffering and hardship to the people, the court said adding it is frustrating that demarcation and determination of the territorial limits of the two lakes not to speak of the LAWDA should have been overlooked and given a go-by so far.

The court said this has facilitated illegal encroachment and trespass in these areas and has also hampered efforts at conservation of these lakes.

The court said it has therefore becomes necessary to undertake demarcation of territorial limits of the two lakes and the fencing of the delineated area to ensure the effective implementation of various schemes aimed at rescuing the two lakes.

The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir is, accordingly, directed to set up a special team of revenue officers for conducting the much needed demarcation of the Dal and Nageen lakes to determine the areas falling under these and also within the jurisdiction of LAWDA.

This team shall be set up within one week from today and the demarcation completed within one month and a report submitted to the Court and the Chief Secretary for further necessary action, the bench added.

UNI