Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought consolidated statements about the funds received from the Central Government and their disbursement since 2002 till date regarding Dal Lake, the flagship of Kashmir’s tourism.
“A compliance report dated (September 14) has been filed by Dr. Abid Rashid Shah, Vice Chairman, J&K Lakes & Waterways Development Authority pursuant to order dated September 10. We are not satisfied with the submissions made therein, inasmuch as, they have not given any dates or particulars,” a bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Dhiraj Singh Thakur said while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2002.
“We find that yearwise bunch of statements regarding the funds received from the Central Government and their utilization have been filed. These are not as per requisition. The respondents shall place before us a consolidated statements of the funds received from the Central Government and their disbursement since the year 2002 till date,” the court said and posted the PIL for further consideration September 18.
The court also asked the government to furnish the list of persons, who were required to shift from their occupancies of land in the Dal Lake; the dates on which allotments were effected in their favour, the dates on which these persons took possession of the relocated plots and the dates on which they have been vacated from the place from which they were to shift.
The court was informed during the proceedings that even for the land which is required to be retrieved, no steps have been taken to enable the rehabilitation of the Dal lake. “The respondents are unable to inform this Court even about the current status of the retrieved land,” the court said.
