HC directive to JMC, clean up Chand Nagar
JAMMU, June 18 (JNF): The Division Bench of State High Court today disposed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the residents of Chand Nagar in interest to the welfare of the area in terms of maintaining cleanliness, removal of encroachments, unauthorized constructions and free flow of traffic.
Justice SK Gupta in a written judgement for the Bench disposed the petition and directed Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation that while taking stock of Chand Nagar area which is a low lying area, prone to catchment of water of entire Gumat because of it's altitude, to maintain constant vigil of the area and ensure it's maintenance and cleanliness.
He also directed the JMC Commissioner to remove encroachments from the road to facilitate the free flow of traffic and passage to pedestrians in roads and lanes through the area.
Also constant vigil should be maintained by the JMC employees and machinery to meet the situation caused due to overflow of clogged drains and nullahs or obstructions raised by the shopkeepers by placing their merchandise.
The court also directed the SSP Jammu to issue necessary instructions to the SHO concerned to ensure frequent patrolling in the area and remove all the encroachments on the roads, raised by the shopkeepers in violation of law and take appropriate action against the wrong doers.
It may be noted here that the residents of Chand Nagar had filed a PIL which stated that a nullah passing through a locality is found to be filled with garbage, stagnant and contaminated water and human refuse which is not only causing health hazards but has also become a nuisance for the residents.
The shopkeepers have encroached the road by setting up their merchandise on it thereby shrinking it's width thus making it impossible for the people to pass through and being responsible for constant traffic jams.
The Division Bench of the State High Court comprising of Justice SK Gupta and Justice Pramod Kohli after hearing advocate CM Koul appearing for the petitioner and Additional Advocate General SC Gupta appearing for the state, Advocate SS Nanda appearing for JMC and Advocate Ardash Sharma appearing for JDA observed that Commissioner and Executive Officer, JMC in their detailed reply submitted that they are making all efforts to maintain and clean Chand Nagar locality.
They denied receiving any complaints with regards to the cleanliness of the area and further stated that the encroachment drive carried out have been carried out thus removing all the unauthorized constructions.