The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the preservation of the Sonamarg tourist destination from encroachments and pollution.
The PIL, which was filed in 2011, had brought to light various environmental concerns, including the pollution of River Sindh and the destruction of the region’s natural beauty due to illegal constructions.
The court’s order came after a compliance report was filed by the respondents, detailing the measures taken to address the concerns raised in the PIL.
The report noted that the respondents were in the process of formulating a new Master Plan 2025-2045 for the Sonamarg area, which would take into account the orders passed by the court and the suggestions put forth by the learned Amicus Curiae.
The court, while disposing of the PIL, issued several directions to ensure the preservation of the Sonamarg area.
The respondents were directed to finalize the Master Plan 2025-2045 by the end of August 2025, while keeping in mind the orders passed by the court and the suggestions put forth by the learned Amicus Curiae.
The applications seeking constructions and repairs/renovation of the existing structures were to be dealt with by the Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA) as per the statutory requirements provided under the BOCA Act.
The court also directed the respondents to remove all encroachments and illegal constructions in the area in due course of law.
Furthermore, the respondents were directed to ensure the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Bye-Laws, which had been adopted and notified by notification dated 21 November 2019.
The commercial establishments in the area were also directed to install solid waste management treatment plants as per the norms in their premises.
The Srinagar Division Bench of Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice M A Chowdhary appreciated the efforts put in by the learned Amicus Curiae, Nadeem Qadiri, for his hard work and rendering proper assistance to the court in deciding the matter.
The PIL, along with the connected writ petitions and CMs, was disposed of in the aforesaid directions.