HC seeks data on state’s pasture lands

Jodhpur : Expressing displeasure over the constant non-compliance of the directions of the high court with respect to the master plans, the high court on Thursday asked for the data of the pasture land in the state. The court also said that since there was no compliance of the courts directions, the court itself will monitor the compliance. The court has listed the matter for hearing on October 14.

Hearing the petition pertaining to the master plans of the cities in the state, the division bench comprising justice Sangeet Lodha and justice Arun Bhansali expressed its dissatisfaction asking the government that how long the government will continue to regularize the encroachments.

The bench, while seeking data of the pasture land, said that it was very unfortunate that instead of removal of the encroachments, they are being regularized without any concern in utter violation of the court's directions.

"For the past 9 months, the court has been passing the orders but now it would not allowed to happen. The court itself will monitor the compliance of its orders", said the bench after the government counsel sought more time in providing data.

Also taking a serious note of the residential development of the green land of Kho Nagauriyan, in which about 1200 hectares of land was converted into residential zone in part and similar land was earmarked in other areas.

Taking objection to this the court asked that how a land could be converted like this and sought former and present status of the land during next hearing. Interestingly, the town planner in his report had stated that this land could not be converted into residential plan.

In an additional application by a petitioner, Lok Sampati Sanrakshan Samiti, a pray was made from the court to direct the local bodies officials to restore the green space and ecological zone as earmarked in the previous master plans and have been replaced in new plans.