Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 24: High Court today pulled up Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) for their failure to dispose off the municipal solid waste as per the Management of Solid Waste Rules and Regulations at Achchan Dumping site in Srinagar.
A Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed the counsel for SMC to file response indicating therein steps taken for disposal of dead animals at the site.
“Municipality shall file response in light of these photographs, indicating therein as to what steps have been taken for disposal of dead animals as are shown scattered there at the dumping site,” the bench directed.
The direction was passed after the counsel for residents of Achchan area Zaffar Qureshi demonstrated some photographs depicting the alarming situation at the land fill dumping site.
“The position prevalent on spot is horrible. Dead animals are shown lying scattered at the dumping site”, observed the bench after going through the recently taken photographs.
During the course of hearing counsel for ERA submitted that dead animals are being brought on the dumping site by SMC and they have to take care of these dead animals.
The High Court said: “Response of the municipality shall also indicate the area which has been earmarked for taking care of these dead animals by it.”
In the meantime, the court asked the Registrar Judicial to file its inspection report by the next date, as he was supposed to file the report after spot inspection of dumping site in terms of earlier order but he laid a motion seeking therein time for filing the same.
Faisal Qadri appearing counsel in public interest submitted that the authorities have failed to comply with the directions of the court passed from time to time and there is no improvement on ground level at dumping site since from filing of the instant PIL.
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