Management of solid waste
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey (now Chief Justice) and Justice Moksha Khajuria has directed Commissioner, Jammu, Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Directors of Urban Local Bodies and Rural Development Department to inform the court about the steps taken for implementation of the action plan for management of solid waste in their respective jurisdiction.
In terms of order dated 12th of August, 2022, the Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department was directed to file personal affidavit indicating compliance of each and every order so far passed by the High Court in the matter from time to time.
In compliance of the order dated 12th of August, 2022, the Principal Secretary to Government, Housing and Urban Development Department has filed the affidavit wherein the scheme of disposal of the municipal solid waste in terms of the Solid Waste Management Rules and Bye-Laws is stated to have been undertaken having reference to collection, segregation, storage, transportation and disposal of municipal solid waste.
In the affidavit, it has been mentioned that State Policy and Solid Waste Management Strategy, 2017 has been notified on 25th of January, 2018 with direction to the Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu/ Kashmir to circulate the policy among Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Officers of Municipal Committees/ Councils for implementation of the same and furnish monthly compliance report to the Administrative Department.
Besides, the policy was uploaded on the website of the Housing and Urban Development Department for perusal of the public at large. That apart, the Affidavit also provides details about the compliance of the directions and the implementation of the policy of the Government from time to time.
On examination of the affidavit, the DB said, “much more practical steps are required to be taken by the concerned authorities in the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for dealing with the process of solid waste management inasmuch as the contents of the affidavit clearly appear to be confined to paper work only at this stage”.
Accordingly, DB directed the Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation; Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation; Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu/ Kashmir and Director, Rural Development Department, Jammu/ Kashmir to inform the court about the steps taken for purpose of implementation of the action plan for management of solid waste in their respective jurisdiction
The DB also directed the Commissioner-Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department to file affidavit detailing out the steps taken for segregation, collection and transportation of solid and medical waste from the hospitals of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and other associated Hospitals.
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