JAMMU: A Division Bench (DB) of J and K High Court comprising Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal on Wednesday directed to set-up a Police Post at Gharana to assist the officials of the Wildlife Department for taking measures to preserve the Gharana Wetland.
The court direction came in response to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rattan Singh and others, seeking demolition or removal of the encroachments on the water bodies and wetland reserves within the State and for restoring them in their original form.
Senior Advocate M.K Bhardwaj with Advocate Karan Sharma appeared for the PIL. After going through the report submitted by Commissioner, the court also directed that officers of the aforesaid police post would assist the officials of the subordinate Revenue Agency to demarcate the land in terms of the report of the then SDM R.S Pura, bearing No. SDMR/Gharana/ 267/2009 dated 30th July, 2009 and also would assist for demarcation of 97.17 Kanals of land as is being recommended by the Committee as short term measures.
The DB also observed that the Wildlife Department manages only a small area of about 20 to 25 Kanals of Wetland which is visited by the migratory birds.
Citing revenue record that revealed 97.17 Kanals of land is recorded as ‘Chapper’ (Wetland), DB directed the Revenue Department to demarcate and delineate the boundaries of 97.17 Kanals of Chapper, so that the Wildlife Department can manage the area as per the Wildlife management practices and attempt of the villagers trying to encroach the wetland by throwing garbage and extending the boundaries of the agricultural land during dry season, could be thwarted so that the officials of Wildlife Department can take cognizance and initiate necessary penal action under the Wildlife Act.
DB further observed that since the Wetland is being drained with waste water of nearby households, dumping of cow dung, agricultural waste, etc., the concerned Block Development Officer of the Rural Department is directed to construct drains and soaking pits in order to prevent waste water entering the wetland. Court further said that the Block Development Officer (BDO) of the Rural Department shall also see that the villagers do not drain out the water from the wetland through a channel. For this, police personnel to be deployed at Police Post at Gharana Wetland shall assist the BDO. DB further observed that the lowering of the depth of the water and drying of the wetland would ultimately lead to shrinkage and death of the wetland and thus leading to destruction of the eco-system and directed Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, to take coercive measures in coordination with other authorities, so that the efforts and management of the Wildlife Department in protecting the wetland are not negated. DB also directed Deputy AG R.S Jamwal to ensure that the Flood Control Casting Management System is put in place at Gharana Wetland.