Order of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court regarding river Jhelum, 07/02/2018
Order of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court in the matter of Molvi Peer Noor Ul Haq Vs State of Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar bench dated 07/02/2018.
The matter related to the collapse of Jhelum embankment at Lasjan. The J&K High Court was informed that the government has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar to conduct the enquiry into the collapse of the embankment. The court noted that 522 canals are in existence and functional. In isolated cases, the canals passing through suburbs of Srinagar city and main towns have been encroached since last few decades because of urbanisation.
The court directed the Deputy Commissioners in their respective districts to mobilize all concerned - in particular the Irrigation and Flood Control Department in coordination with concerned Chief Engineer for ensuring complete removal of encroachment from the canals in their respective districts. The Jammu & Kashmir High Court said that to avoid any further devastative floods like that of 2014, all canals which, in fact, are tributaries leading to river Jhelum must be restored to their original position by removing all encroachments and the river Jhelum should also be restored to its original position.