Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 28: National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to consider the utilizing funds available under Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-Gramin) so that solid waste management could be taken up in Kashmir’s wetlands on a regular basis.
The petition titled Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat versus J&K Govt was listed before Principal Bench of 4 members headed by Chairperson National Green Tribunal (NGT) Justice A K Goel which ordered that suggestions on use of SBM Gramin be duly considered and acted upon to the extent found viable.
“There are enough funds available under Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM Gramin) for such activities but unfortunately the money is not being utilized as no DPRs have been prepared by Govt in past ” reads the suggestions of the petitioner filed before NGT.
Petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat has suggested that an effective watch and ward system needs to be made available by J&K Wildlife Conservation Department to prevent dumping of solid waste in and around Hokersar. He had urged NGT to direct the J&K Govt to spend funds available under Solid Liquid Resource Management programme of SBM Gramin.
“I also urged the NGT to appoint an independent Non Governmental Expert as Court Commissioner to facilitate the determination of the real questions in controversy and the false statements being made by the Municipal Committee Bandipora wherein they claim that municipal waste was not being dumped at Zalwan area which is not true at all ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar
NGT order further reads: “Let further action be taken by the joint Committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. The above suggestions be duly considered and acted upon, to the extent found viable. We also direct that the National Wetlands Committee may compile data of status of compliance of environmental norms in respect of all significant wetlands in the country to ensure remedial action. The State PCBs/PCCs and State/UT Wetland Authorities in India may give the status of management of wetlands in their respective States to the Secretary, MoEF&CC within three months. On that basis a joint Committee of the Secretary and Chairman CPCB may give a consolidated report to this Tribunal before the next date”.
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