Sinking land in Doda: Govt sets up Panel

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 24: Acting on the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) directives, Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a committee to suggest the remedial measures for preventing environmental damage in light of carrying capacity, hydro-geology/geo-morphological studies along with covering other allied and incidental issues of land subsidence in District Doda.
As per an order, the panel comprised of Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir as chairperson, Principal Secretary to Government, Forest, Ecology, and Environment Department as member convenor, Prof JS Rawat from Kumaon University, Almora; representatives of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalaya and Environment, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Space Application Centre, Ahmadabad, National Institute of rock Mechanics, Bangalore, and Central Pollution Control Board as members.
The order said that the committee shall suggest remedial measures to prevent environmental damage in the light of carrying capacity, hydro-geology studies, geo-morphological studies and also covering other allied and incidental issues.
“The committee shall be at liberty to take assistance from any other expert/institution. The committee shall be free to interact with stakeholders including the inhabitants/members of civil societies and may also consider the concerns in the media report,” said the order.
As mandated by the Green Tribunal, the committee shall complete its studies within two months and furnish its report to the Tribunal by e-mail on or before May 15, 2023.
Further, the committee has been asked to meet within two weeks and complete its studies within two months.
“The committee shall be serviced by the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment,” read the order issued by Jammu and Kashmir Government.