Div Com reviews status of building permissions in Eco Sensitive Zones, directs officers to take decisive call in each case without lingering those for undue period of time

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg today directed the committee members for 'Implementation of Eco Sensitive Zone Notification', in respect of Dachigam National Park, Thajwas (Baltal) Wildlife Sanctuary and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, to take swift decisions for construction permissions to dispose off the cases without consuming time of applicants.

He said that lingering issues for an undue period is causing inconvenience to the public. He made these remarks while chairing a meeting of officers in his office chamber, today.  The meeting was attended by attended by Deputy Commissioners Anantnag, Pulwama, Ganderbal; Regional Wildlife Warden, officers from Tourism Department, Forest Department, SDA, Town planning, Pollution Control Board, Assistant Commissioner Central, OSD to Div Com, Tehsildar Hqd Srinagar besides President National Society for protection of Water Resources Wetlands & Forests.

At the outset, Wildlife Department presented details and data of Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks and the fauna found in the protected areas besides the circumference of the Eco Sensitive Zone. The meeting held threadbare discussion on individual cases submitted for grant of permission and the decisions given by stakeholder departments to issue or decline permission.

During the meeting, Div Com directed action in one case in which the applicant has already constructed a structure without proper permission. He also directed the concerned department to prepare a map of green corridor of the Eco Sensitive Zone within two months. Besides, he asked Wildlife Department to prepare an action plan to increase the number of Kashmir Stag (Hangul) to bring it out of the present list of critically endangered animals.