Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed the State to identify land fill sites in each city/town of Jammu and Kashmir within a period of six months for dumping and disposal of solid wastes and set up well efficient Solid Waste Management Projects within a period of another six months.
These directions were passed by the DB while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Advocate Sanjeet Kumar seeking pollution free environment in J&K.
After hearing Advocate Jatinder Singh for the PIL whereas Senior AAG SS Nanda for the State and Senior Advocate DC Raina with Advocate Anuj Dewan Raina appearing for the Shrine Board, DB observed, “the issue of removing heaps of garbage/garbage dumps and setting up Solid Waste Management System is not related to a particular region of the State. This problem/nuisance is in every district/town of the State”.
After going through the latest compliance report filed by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, the DB directed the respondents to identify land fill sites in each city/town of J&K, if not already identified, within a period of six months from today for dumping and disposal of solid wastes. “Thereafter, respondents shall set up well efficient Solid Waste Management Projects in each such sites within a period of next six months, in the manner given in Implementation Schedule (Schedule-I) of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 framed under Sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986”.
The DB also directed Chief Secretary to set up a panel of experts within a period of 15 days from today for this purpose. Even the concerned Municipal Authorities were directed to set up Vermicompost Technology within the same period at small scale level to manage the daily waste at source.
The DB further directed respondents to undertake sanitation drives for the cleanliness of dumped solid waste on the mountain slopes so as to preserve the plantation and green cover and set up Biogas Plants within the same period in the State, wherever it is necessary.
The J&K Pollution Control Board was directed to ensure that there is a proper disposal of municipal solid waste and the land fill sites start working with protective measures against pollution of ground water, surface water and air fugitive dust, wind blow litter, bad odour, fire hazard, bird menace, pests or rodents, greenhouse gas emissions, slope instability and erosion.
“The piles of unattended garbage, home waste, plastic bags, bottles and even construction waste can be seen at a number of places all over Udhampur city, which may result in outbreak of any serious viral disease. It is contended that the sanitary workers collect the home waste and throw it at roadsides. Further, it is contended that stinking smell emanating from the garbage has made it very difficult to walk on the roads and streets”, the DB said, adding “not only this, even on many occasions the uncollected garbage on the roads fill sewerage lines, as a result sewage overflows on roads making them impassable. Further, sanitary workers are in the habit of burning home waste including polythene bags on the road which not only create pollution but prove to be irksome for asthmatic patients”.
With these directions, Division Bench disposed of PIL.
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