Samaan Lateef
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court asked the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to explain reasons why 720-km long Bathinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline has not taken off despite being approved in 2012.
The division bench of High Court comprising of Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal directed the IOC, counsel Anil Bhan to file status report on next date of hearing.
To check and control growing auto-pollution levels in Srinagar, the IOC informed the court that Auto LPG Dispensing Stations (ALPS) would be commissioned in April 2016.
High Court while hearing the PIL seeking decongestion of traffic in Srinagar city directed the State Government to issue necessary permissions and no objections certificates in accordance with the rules to the IOC. However, the State government submitted before the court that the IOC must set up 3 to 4 ALDS in Srinagar.
On decongestion of traffic, the State Government informed the High Court that it has decided to shift Batamaloo Bus Stand, which caters to public transport of whole north Kashmir and some parts of central and south Kashmir, to Truck Terminal (TT) Parimpora in the outskirts of city.
“After a fresh review, it has been now decided to shift the General Bus Stand Batamaloo to Truck Terminal Parimpora. Some steps in this behalf have been taken which include issuance of tender notices on December 1,” said a report filed by the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Chairman before the High Court.
The High Court directed the SDA to expedite the process of shifting of the bus stand and file status report before next date of hearing. The PIL has been listed for next hearing in second week of February.
Government said it had invited tenders for development of footpaths, central verges including tiling and fencing at the TT, Parimpora.
The SDA also informed the court that a draft of lay out plan for Built Operate Transfer (BOT) of Pantha-Chowk Bus stand in south Kashmir would also be prepared with the consultation of Chief Town Planner within a period of one month.
High Court directed the SDA to submit lay out plan before it by or before next date of hearing.
Court also directed the Traffic department, Roads and Buildings department and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to render assistance to the SDA for preparing the lay out plan for Pantha-Chowk Bus Stand.
The High Court also directed the authorities of the NHAI to complete four laning of Qazigund-Srinagar highway by July 31, 2016. The NHAI has also been directed to file fortnightly the periodical report about the progress of work.
The NHAI authorities informed the court that the 7-km stretch of road from Parimpora to Shalteng in outskirts of Srinagar city would be completed by May 31, 2016.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has also informed the court that all the complexes without parking slots would be sealed within two weeks. Court directed the SMC Commissioner to file compliance report by next date of hearing.
Court has also directed Direction Information to be present in person on next date of hearing for not filing compliance reports of court orders of November 26 and December 15.
