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Monitoring panel to meet on Dec 13: Govt

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 12/5/2016 11:53:17 PM

SRINAGAR, Dec 5: The high court has asked Pollution Control Board (PCB) to file report specifying the places where the self purifying capacity of Dal and Nigeen lakes is less than the normal.
After hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on conservation of Dal Lake, the court has issued the direction to PCB following perusal of its report which reveals that water quality of Dal and Nigeen lakes in respect of Dissolved Oxygen Level (DOL) was found on lower side near STPs of Habak, Nishat Lam and Asahi Bagh Bridge.
Explaining as to what the “DOL” means, the PCB submitted before the court that it determines the self purifying capacity of water body and its concentration more than 5mg/I indicate good water quality.
The PCB further submitted that the average concentration in the Dal and Nigeen lakes range between 4.3 to 7.0 mg/I. “The concentration more than 5 mg/I, both in Dal & Nigeen lakes, ranges between 4.3 to 7.0 mg/I, would otherwise mean that at some places the self purifying capacity of the water bodies is not satisfactory, having concentration of less than 5 mg/I,” a division bench comprising of Justices M.H Attar and B.S Walia observed and directed the PCB to specify places where the self purifying capacity of the water bodies was less than the norm.
Meanwhile, the PCB in its compliance report stated that the samples taken from STPs at SKIMS, Hotel Lalit Grand Palace, Centaur Lake View Hotel and STPs maintained by LAWD A at Nishnt Lam. Habak, Hazratbal and Brari Nambal (new) are meeting the prescribed norms.
Additional Advocate General M A Beigh also submitted that 6th meeting of the Monitoring Committee (MC) is scheduled to be held on December 13. “Since the meeting is being convened at Jammu, Zafar A Shah, learned Senior Advocate - Amicus Curie, who is member of the said Committee, in the larger interests of the State, shall participate in the said meeting so that appropriate decisions are taken about the law, which is required to be formulated for preserving and conserving the water bodies including Dal and Nigeen lakes,” the court said and directed the registry to forthwith serve copy of the order to the Amicus Curie.
In his compliance report, the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Srinagar gave details as also the particulars of the persons against whom cases have been registered u/s 188 RPC.
“All the persons, mentioned in the said Compliance Report, shall file undertakings within two weeks from today in terms of previous Court orders stating therein that they will abide by laws of the land, the Court orders and will not raise any illegal construction,” the court said.
In the event the undertakings are not filed, as stipulated, the court directed its registry to issue notices to them for their personal appearance before the Court on next date of hearing in the PIL.
“The latest report filed by the Court Commissioners reveals the apathy shown by the respondents in enforcing the law of the land and Court orders in some cases. The respondents, more particularly, the authorities of LAWDA, shall explain their position as to why no action is taken in respect of the issues raised in the report,” the court said and directed them to forthwith enforce the law of the land and Court orders and report compliance before next date of hearing in the week commencing December 26.
“The inaction on the part of these authorities may result in proceeding against them not only for dereliction of their duties but for violation of the Court orders,” it added.