Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 23: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notice to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for violation of environmental norms in the construction of Handwara-Bangus road.
Principal Bench New Delhi, issued a notice to the Govt, wherein the Tribunal has observed ‘violation of norms’ vis-a-vis the construction of Handwara-Bangus road.
The NGT Corum headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava assisted by his expert members D.A Senthil Cel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, observed that there are substantial issues related to the non-compliance of the environmental norms.
“In this original application, the applicant has raised the grievance that in the execution of the work on Handwara – Bangus road project (state highway) at Rajwar Forest Area of Kupwara District of J&K the environmental norms are being violated and extraction of gravel in the stream local Talri Nallah of Rajwar area is being done. It is alleged that the authorities have allowed extraction of gravel from a local stream (Bakiaker – Zachaldara) of Rajwar area of Kupwara district for utilization in construction of the road”, read the order issued by the GT.
Rasikh Rasool Bhat, in the application filed before the NGT, alleged that more than 25000 lush green forest trees were cut/uprooted and big mountains have been blasted and more than 14 hectares of forest land is being used to construct the road.
“Further allegation is that none of the respondents have applied for the mandatory Environmental Clearance and no information in this regard is available in Parivesh Portal”, read the order.
In the application, Bhat has raised the issue that, if the road for Bangus valley was already available via Rajwar why the Government has proposed and constructing a new road via Forest of Rajwar that has impacted overall environmental in the Rajwar Area and huge wastage of Indian tax payers money under Central Road Fund (CRF).
Bhat questioned the Government for allowing extraction of minerals at Dhobi Ghat Zachaldara between the radius and distance of 400 meters of two vital bridges, while pressing heavy excavators deep more than 3 meters.
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