SrinagarThe Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday directed up-gradation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) around the Dal Lake, the flagship of Kashmir tourism.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey passed the directions after State Pollution Control Board submitted that almost all the STPs of the Lake were functioning beyond permissible limits.
The SPCB stated that these STPs are functioning beyond permissible limits due to continuous flow of sewage in the lake.
Sample taken earlier also reveal that all STPs are functioning beyond permissible limits.
The Court directed that the existing STPs shall be up-graded and the two new STPs of 30 MLD capacity, purposed to be set up, be placed expeditiously.
It called for having guidelines for up-gradation of existing STPs and up-grading the existing STPs in tune with these guidelines.
With regard to demarcation of Khusahl Sar, Anchar Lake and Gilsar, the court directed the authorities to get the survey of these lakes done and inform it with photographic evidence their position as on today.
Vice chancellor LAWDA informed the court that the same could not be done as the concerned authorities (revenue) are not cooperating with regard to furnishing of data of these lakes.
The court directed the concerned deputy commissioners to cooperate with LAWDA and make available the requisite data to LAWDA so that the demarcation of these water bodies can be carried without any further delay.
The court also directed the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir to ensure the exercise was done at an earliest and ordered that a report be submitted before the court by or before next date of hearing in the PIL.
The court said after the survey of these lakes was completed, LAWDA shall ensure these water bodies are protected.
For launching the 3D modelling of floor of the Dal Lake, the court has been informed that the demo of 3D modelling has been done on October 14 and for permanent launching of 3D modelling, the purchase requisite equipments are in place and as soon as the same are available the work would be started on the project. Court was also informed about the four-lane project taken by R&B department along Boulevard and Foreshore road and that some objections were raised with regard affecting of ecology of the lake by this project and for the same purpose Environment Impact Assessment has been asked by the experts, which is still awaited. The division bench said direction would be passed thereafter.
It was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2002 by a then law graduate seeking directions to protect the Dal Lake.
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