Srinagar- The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has closed a Public Interest Litigation regarding conservation and restoration of Aripal Spring located in the Tral area of south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

A division bench of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal closed the PIL after hearing petitioner, practicing advocate Mohammad Younus, and counsel for the government.

“...after we had heard the learned counsel for the parties at some length, the petitioner, who appears in person, submits that in the wake of the stand set-out in the response filed by the respondent authorities, the proceedings be closed, but with liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh petition in the event any further cause of action arises,” the court observed and disposed of the PIL accordingly.

According to the petitioner, the spring originates in the northern ridge of Greater Himalayas at an elevation of approximately 4000 meters above sea level and finally merges with the Jhelum River near Chursoo Awantipora.

He had said that average discharge from the Spring had been previously measured at around 20 cubic feet per second (Cusecs ) which is approximately 108 lakh gallons per day. However“sadly” as of today the spring has completely dried up, the petitioner says.

As per him the entire population of Sub District Tral is dependent upon the source of drinking water from Aripal spring and they have been facing severe water scarcity for the last so many years. The drying of spring has affected the daily lives of the residents, he had stated.

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