NEW DELHI, Jan 28:
Jammu and Kashmir Government today faced a flak from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on poor solid waste management in Srinagar and further warned that it would order dumping of all trash in the Secretariat complex if its orders were not followed with immediate effect. “The country’s beautiful city is in such a mess. The city is in horrible condition with garbage and polythene spread all over the area. Everybody throws waste here and there as there are no dustbins. You better regulate it or you want the trash to be dumped at the Secretariat office,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said while asserting that it would hold Chief Secretary of the State responsible for non-complaint of the orders passed a year ago.
The green court also pulled up State administration over the delay in setting up the waste-to-energy plant despite its orders. “Why don’t you set up the MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) plant? There are municipal waste scattered everywhere. Does that require a Cabinet approval? You cannot block everything and let people suffer and die,” the bench said.
The bench granted one week to the State Government to prepare an action plan to comply with its order. The green bench expressed displeasure and said Srinagar receives tourists all over the year and floating population is very high in the area, leading to increasing generation of MSW by the day. It said the State Government and public authority cannot afford to ignore this issue, which is their statutory, Constitutional and public law obligation. “Residents of Srinagar, including floating population of tourists, are entitled to enjoy a decent and clean environment in terms of Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” Justice Kumar said.
“In January 2015, we already passed an order to set up waste-to energy plant. Whole year has passed and still the plant’s work is lying on the paper.You better do something or we will appoint a Court Commissioner to ascertain the actual condition of Srinagar,” he added. (UNI)
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