Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought a Public Interest Litigation regarding prevention of floods in Kashmir Valley.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal heard extensive arguments in Public Interest Litigation titled Environmental Policy Group (EPG) v. Union of India & Others, which concerns the flood vulnerability and ecological degradation in the Valley.
During the hearing, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, appeared through virtual mode. The Court directed the Government to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the recommendations submitted by Advocate Nadeem Qadri, Amicus Curiae, and on the comprehensive report filed on September 8 by EPG Convenor, Faiz Bakshi. The report, backed by field observations, highlighted the recurring flood scare and the authorities’ continued inability to frame a comprehensive flood management plan.
The Bench expressed serious concern over the alleged mismanagement of the Flood Spill Channel, the Valley’s primary flood safeguard. The Amicus Curiae placed on record pictorial evidence showing alarming deficiencies and encroachments.
Granting the Government three weeks’ time, the Court ordered submission of a detailed compliance and ATR, with strict directions that it must outline both preventive and remedial measures to address Kashmir’s flood risks.
Last year, the court had issued several directions, underling that preventing the possibility of recurrence devastating floods like September 2014 was of “prime importance” for it. Among other directions, the court has directed authorities to state by way of filing Action Taken Report detailing therein what preventive measures they have taken in order to deal with the precarious issue of floods in Kashmir. The government has also directed the government to furnish utilization certificates in respect of the amount to the tune of Rs.4,1323.17 lakhs released by Union of India for various projects undertaken by UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The court had also sought the latest compliance report from all the concerned Deputy Commissioners to its directions for ensuring that no construction of any kind is raised near the water bodies within their territorial jurisdiction.
HC seeks Action Taken Report on flood management
