Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 15: High Court today directed the Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri to obtain details of works undertaken on conservation and protection of famous Wullar Lake situated in North Kashmir.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Hasnain Masoodi also asked the Advocate General to follow strictly the approved Management Act in the conservation and protection of the lake.
“Advocate General shall obtain in a tabulated form details of the works undertaken with present status of such works and with estimated expenditures,” the court directed.
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation titled Kashmir Environmental Protection versus State.
Qadri submitted that the works in accordance with the approved action plan are being executed and various tenders have been issued but the funds have not been released by the Government of India.
The Advocate General also submitted that Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) has submitted a certificate for requirement and utilization of funds on the project.
Showkat Ahmad Makroo (ASGI), who was representing the Union of India, stated that on examining the utilization certificate Government will consider the release of further Rs 30 crores.
“Same is required to be done at an earliest so that the execution of works in accordance with the approved Action Plan is not in any manner adversely affected,” the court observed.
The court also directed them to file status report on the next date about the release of funds.
About the demarcation of the Lake, the Project Coordinator, Wular Project, in his affidavit stated that 1159 concrete boundary pillars have been erected all along the 83 kilometre long demarcation line which was required so as to demarcate the area of the Wular Lake and the demarcation of the Lake has been completed by the Forest Division Srinagar.
Amicus Curie, Advocate Zaffar Shah, in the PIL highlighted that the action plan for the lake was approved in 2007 and was to be completed within a period of five years, which could not fructify as such time frame has to be fixed for implementation of action plan afresh.
The Advocated General in this connection submitted that the delay has caused due to release of funds for the project only in 2012.
The court observed: “The concerned authorities shall take up the matter at their respective levels so as to re-fix five years time for execution of works commencing from the year 2012.”
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