It is unfortunate that summer capital of J&K has become polluted to the extent that it can pose health hazard. This is a very serious matter because it will adversely affect Kashmir tourism, the industry that is called the mainstay of Kashmir economy. Last couple of summers have not been conducive to tourist industry owing to disturbances causing law and order situation and tourists avoiding trip to the Valley. The Government has to understand that Kashmir tourism is not an isolated affair; there are numerous services that need to be streamlined to make tourism agreeable and attractive. Srinagar has become a very congested city with enormous traffic congestion. Because the norms of vehicle emission are not observed and controlled by the city traffic police, there is huge air pollution. Actually regulating city traffic is neither efficient nor up to the standards, air and noise pollution have become a nuisance.
A PIL is pending before the Division Bench of State High Court in which the court had issued orders to the Pollution Control Board to come up with a status report of what steps have been taken to control pollution in the city. The report submitted to the High Court speaks that that the air and noise pollution levels of Srinagar city are beyond permissible limits The court was puzzled that the PCB should submit a report like that and wondered what steps it had taken to control pollution. It is really surprising that the PCB should be inviting suggestions from all stakeholders of what measures can be taken to reduce the appalling air and noise pollution in the city. The reality is that the PCB should have made all out effort not to allow pollution cross the limits and endanger the lives of people particularly when the court had already given instructions towards that purpose. The court is right in taking the strong step of issuing a contempt notice to the Chief Engineer R&B and asked him to be present in the next hearing of the case. It is so sad to say that even the posh area of Boulevard Road of Srinagar that goes around the Dal Lake has air and noise pollution beyond permissible limits. What will be the condition in other densely populated and crowded parts of the city? The court has rightly asked what PCB has been doing when it is its official duty to take steps of controlling pollution. Naturally, the report submitted by it is actually its own indictment.
Much onus is to be brought to the doorsteps of Traffic Police Department and the court has made a reference to it also in its observations. For example it has been found that the highest noise pollution is in the No Horn Zones of the city. It is direct reflection on the functionality of the Traffic Police.
The court considered other sources of noise and air pollution like its earlier order of shifting of Batmaloo Bus Stand to some other place. Although, the court was told that the shifting had been ordered yet the counsel for the petitioner said that this may not be the true position as the scrap and other things were still lying outside the road which leads to new district court complex at Moominabad.
In final analysis it is regrettable that PCB is just sleeping over the fundamental issue of taking all steps to control air and noise pollution. Administrative Department has the obligation of ensuring that all institutions of the administration function properly and defaulters are dealt with as is permissible under rules.
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