HC Asks 3 Officers To Revisit Gulmarg Master-Plan,Else Appear Before It  

SRINAGAR — As there has been no headway in revisiting of Master Plan for Sonamarg, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday granted Chief Executive Officer SDA, the Commissioner Secretary to Government Housing and Urban Development Department, Commissioner Secretary Tourism Department and Chief Town Planner Kashmir two weeks to respond to its directions and ordered them to appear in person in case of failure. 

On April 5 this year, CEO Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) had sought time to report compliance of court’s February 22 order in terms whereof the Commissioner Secretary to Government Tourism Department was asked to take effective steps with regard to the comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment Report and submit the same to the Chief Town Planner, Kashmir for enabling him to take appropriate steps for revising the Master Plan for Sonamarg, as directed by the court from time to time. 

In the compliance report filed by the Chief Executive Officer Sonamarg Development Authority, revealing that the matter has been taken up with both Chief Town Planner and Commissioner Secretary Tourism Department on March 29 and April 1 respectively. 

“Time and again the respondents are seeking time to report compliance with reference to revisiting the Sonamarg Master Plan. The officer who are required to file response with reference to the direction of revisiting the Sonamarg Master Plan are Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department and Commissioner Secretary Tourism Department,” the court said, adding, “In view of the stand taken by Chief Executive Officer, Sonamarg Development Authority, the Commissioner Secretary to Government Housing and Urban Development Department, Commissioner Secretary Tourism Department and Chief Town Planner Kashmir are given two weeks further time to respond to the directions passed on the subject of revisiting the master plan of Sonamarg. In the event the officers fail to file the response within the time granted, they shall appear in person before the court on next date of hearing. The compliance with reference to the notifying action plan regarding Solid Waste Management, stands filed by the Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department copy whereof furnished to the learned Amicus Shri Nadeem Qadri. Mr. Nadeem seeks and is granted two weeks time to file response.” 

Nadeem Qadri, Amicus submits that Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department is not furnishing the details with reference to taking the steps for notifying the Rules and byelaws as directed on April 5. When asked, senior additional advocate general B.A.Dar submitted that the process for notifying Rules and Byelaws is in pipeline and the matter in this regard has been taken up with the Election Commission of India.