HC seeks affidavit from SMC on MW, effluents

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, June 3: High Court today directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to file an affidavit indicating therein the steps taken for treatment of effluents and Municipal Waste in a residential colony in Srinagar outskirts.
It was a representation addressed to Chief Justice of High Court by the inhabitants of Hill View Colony, Old Air Field Road, Wanbal Rangreth Gagoo village and Wawoosa has been treated as PIL which complains the worst situation of a water body due to effluents emitted by the industrial units directly into the water body situated in the area.
The Chief Justice Pankat Mithal and Justice Moksha Kazmi after hearing the case, directed the SME to submit an affidavit indicating therein the steps taken for treatment of effluents in residential area of Hill View Colony. The SMC authorities were under direction to inform it as to whether the Colony has been established in accordance with the Master Plan.
The grievance in the plea is that the inhabitants of the Hill View Colony Old Air Field Road, Wanabal Rangreth Yayil, Gagoo Villages that on account of the establishment of an industrial area they are facing health hazards due to discharge of effluents from the industrial units as there is no proper arrangement for treatment of the waste and effluents.
The Pollution Control Board in terms of previous court directions has filed compliance report stating that according to the survey report about 150 industrial units exist in the area which includes 03 units in Red category, 53 units in Orange category, 64 units in Green category and 22 units in White category.
The direction followed after the Regional Director J&K Pollution Control Board, District Officer PCB, Budgam, has pointed three deficiencies and recommended that the CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant) needs to be made operational and the treated water needs to be channelized for irrigation purposes.
The drains in the industrial estate as stated are required to be cleaned and cleared regularly to ward off blockage and choking and solid waste generated within the industrial estate should be channelized to some municipal body for scientific disposal.