Srinagar, Nov 16: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, to file a comprehensive affidavit indicating all the steps ensuring cleanliness and collection of garbage dumped near the famous water body Wular Lake. It has been maintained that garbage disposal process shall abide by the scheme of law.
While taking up the matter for hearing, a division bench comprising Chief justice Ali Mohammad Magray and justice Vinod Chatterji, directed the officer to file the affidavit by or before November 30 this year.
“Affidavit as directed in terms of order dated 31.10.2022 be filed by or before next date of hearing,” the bench said while listing the matter on November 30.
Pertinently, the court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo pertaining to dumping of municipal waste on the Ramsar Wetland in North Kashmir’s Sopore town.
To mention, this year on October 31 the court had directed the Executive Officers, Municipal Council Baramulla and Sopore towns to ensure collection and dumping of garbage only at the sites identified for the same. As per the directions of the court, same procedure needs to be followed in case of other Municipal Councils.
The court hearing was also attended by the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Mathoora Masoom, It was submitted that a comprehensive plan be prepared for maintaining cleanliness while ensuring the collection and disposal of garbage following the scheme of law.
Mathoora Masoom revealed, “The establishment of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is a time consuming affair, but the Department has already initiated the process of designing these MRFs for further preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) from the PWD and R&B Departments.” The Director further stated that the plan for execution will take some time, however , the garbage dumping shall take place at Jetty Khawaja Bagh, Baramulla,
She informed that the land measuring 40 Kanals situated at Darnambal Sopore was not used for dumping waste while the NOC was not been issued by the Pollution Control Board (PCB).
The court order revealed, “In view of above, we direct the Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, to file comprehensive affidavit, indicating all the steps, as mentioned orally by her before this Court in order to ensure the compliance of laws on the disposal of the garbage with copy in advance to other side.”
The bench had also directed the petitioner Committee to file its response in the matter.
To mention , the PIL filed in 2020 by Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo through counsel Shafkat Nazir had sought immediate stoppage of dumping of solid waste and biomedical waste on land situated in Dharnambal, Ningli Tarzoo Sopore which falls within the periphery pillars of Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA). the same was prohibited within the limits of Hygam-Ningli-Tarzoo Tourism Development Authority.
The plea stated that in the month of March, 2020 Municipal council Sopore started dumping waste in close vicinity of Wular Lake.
“Both biodegradable and non-biodegradable and biomedical wastes were dumped right on the banks/ boundary of Wular lake in the midst of tourist huts and near the prestigious Wullar barrage/ navigation project which is of international importance,” it revealed.
It was pleaded that the solid waste was dumped without following the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the whole place was converted into a stinky swamp. The petitioner Committee pleaded that respondents be directed to develop the area in a planned manner given its vast tourism potential with due respect to the environmental sensitivities.
The respondents were directed to identify a proper place for dumping of municipal waste away from the residential and environmentally sensitive areas and develop the same in terms of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
