SrinagarTaking note of the digging of roads after macdamization, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday asked R&B to draw up a plan so that whatever work needed to be done is carried prior to completion of the roads in Kashmir Valley.
As the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation started, a division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Alok Aradhe perused reports submitted by the court commissioners.
With regard to Srinagar-Qazigund, the court commissioner submitted that the longest stretch of road out is developed and maintained by R&B and NHAI. While 52 Kms are under the control of NHAI, 16 KMs is under the control of R&B. The court commissioner report indicated that at a number of spot between Srinagar-Galandar, there are potholes and the road was uneven in patches. The report also pointed out that even after macdamization of the road was under taken, the same was immediately dug up by local authorities as a result of lack of coordination particularly between R&B and NHAI.
In this context, we direct the R&B to draw up a plan so that the same is followed in every district where roads to be dug up for utility services or for other reasons. So that whatever work is to be done be done prior to the making of road, the court said directed that a status report be submitted by R&B by next date of hearing.
It was also informed that certain high tension wires are causing impediment in the progress of the work in so for as the NHAI was concerned. The court said that the matter also needed to be addressed by counsel for authorities.
One more thing that we note is that the court commissioner contacted the Prabhat Kumar, who was one of the main nodal officer, but he did not give adequate positive response to him. On the previous occasion we had clearly directed that a very strict view be taken in case the officer does not cooperate with the court commissioners, the court said and asked Prabhat Kumar to submit an affidavit, indicating as to why he did not respond to the call of the court commissioner. Depending on his affidavit court will take further course of action.
Regarding Srinagar-Sonmarg, the court commissioner report was also examined by the court and directed R&B and BRO to file a response. The Court Commissioner also complained that the BRO was not cooperating. An affidavit be submitted by the BRO indicating as to why they are not cooperating. The various points have been submitted in the court commissioner report addressed by the R&B and BRO so as to show us the smooth flow of traffic on the road.
Regarding Srinagar-Sopore, the court went through the commissioner report submitted by advocate Ateeb Kant. He has divided the stretch of the road in three segments for the convenience of the courtBatmaloo to Arimpora, Praimpora-Sangrama and Sangrama to Sopore. The 1&3 sections are under the control of R&B and 2 under the control of NHAI and BRO. All these agencies shall submit the response to the commissioners report and where ever action is necessary the same shall be taken immediately for filling of pothholes and other things, the court added.
The court was hearing the PIL filed by Civil Society Tral through advocate G N Shaheen last year.
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