Gharana PIL: Court asks Govt to arrange Rs 12 Crore

JAMMU: A Division Bank of Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the Forest Department to arrange Rs 12 Crore for acquisition land for preservation and conservation of Gharana wetland.

In a Public Interest Litigation regarding preservation of Gharana wetland, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sindhu Sharma after hearing counsels observed that status report has been filed by the respondents, in which further six weeks time has been sought with a view to explore the possibility of identification of alternate State land and the willingness of such effective families to accept the alternate site. It is also stated that with a view to take the acquisition proceedings further on, the Wildlife Department be asked to tentatively arrange an amount of Rs. 11.00 crore to Rs. 12.00 crore.

DB after gone through the status report, directed Secretary Forest Department is directed to consider arranging the aforementioned tentative amount, which is deemed necessary at this stage for furthering the acquisition proceedings. An affidavit in this regard by the Secretary, Forest Department on or before the next date of hearing.