No reconstruction in repairs guise: HC
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 9: As the management of solid waste is a big challenge in the State, the Government today informed the Court that the bylaws with regard to SWM have been sent to the Law Department for approval.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Alok Aradhe while taking a note of solid waste management in the State had directed Chief Secretary to take effective steps for implementation of SWM bylaws and to ensure that enforcement of SWM system is in place in the State.
Today the State counsel B A Dar in compliance of other directions passed on August 29 informed the Court that the bi-laws of solid waste management have been prepared and sent to the law department for its approval. Court sought fresh status report in this connection by next date.
Court has also been informed about the process with regard to granting online building permission for those who are and would be seeking requisite building permission for their structures.
For preparation of Solid Waste Management Plan for Phalgam authorities were required to inform the court the deficiencies which need to be taken care of and in this connection Phalgam Municipal Committee, Amarnath Shrine Board, Phalgam Development Authority and Pollution Control Board were going to make joint review to prepare action plan and thereafter action plan for solid waste management was to be put in place before the court.
Court is concerned about the segregation of bio-degradable and non-degradable waste in Pahalgam. Approximately 74% of the solid waste is generated through hotels and restaurants. This being the case, it appears that segregation at the source would be easier. This is particularly so because the hotels and restaurants are clearly within the ambit of the administration through various licensing measures.
Authorities are already under direction that the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2017 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, be implemented in letter and spirit.
Pahalgam Development Authority is under directions to accept the application for necessary repair or renovation when site plan, photographs of the structure and other requisite enclosures are annexed with the application and thereafter shall consider these applications with a time line of four weeks.
BOCA authorities after consideration of these applications are duty bound to inform the decision to the owner who has applied for the repair of his structure. Court also made it clear that it shall be responsibility of PDA to physically inspect the structure which needs repair and ensure that under the shield of repair or renovation no owner increase the structure.
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