HC seeks status report on maintenance of parks, gardens from Div Com Jammu

Srinagar, March 09: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to place on record a status report regarding the maintenance and development of parks and gardens in the Jammu Division.
The court passed the direction after counsel Mubeen Wani representing the respondents submitted that a status report from Divisional Commissioner Jammu, has been received and the same shall be filed within the period of six weeks only.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the lack of parks and gardens in J&K.
The status report filed in terms of a court order passed on September 19, last year by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu which also includes the action taken reports of the Director Floriculture and Municipal Corporation Jammu stated that the Department of Floriculture is presently maintaining 64 parks and gardens in the Jammu Division having an area of 1898.74 kanals.
The Director Floriculture in his action taken report filed on the instructions of Divisional Commissioner Jammu had stated that single-use plastic and other plastic material is strictly prohibited in all the existing parks & gardens maintained by the Department & Signage.
It was submitted that the toilet facility and Mali sheds have been provided at appropriate places and wherever feasible in major parks & gardens maintained by the Floriculture Department.
Moreover, all the parks & gardens maintained by the department have well-constructed pathways, it said. The report further stated that the department has provided garden shredders as well as constructed compost pits in major parks and gardens maintained by the department for disposing of garden waste.
In a report furnished by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on January 01, 2023, in compliance with court directions and instructions issued by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu stated that the directions were passed to the Engineering wing of JMC for the construction of a Compost Pit in every park and will be done as per the availability of funds. It stated that JMC has installed dustbins in most of the parks and the process of procurement of dustbins for leftover parks is also going on.
It was submitted in the report that the directions were passed to the Engineering wing of JMC for the construction of ramps or toilets as well as proper pathways wherever feasible. Also, the matter has been taken with the Social Welfare Department for identification of suitable parks for ramps.
It further stated that the notices regarding unauthorized construction if any in parks maintained by JMC have been issued from time to time and timely action is being taken regarding all complaints.