Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: The State High Court today constituted the three member committee to oversee the function and work of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and other municipal committees of all districts of Kashmir division with regard to dealing and catering with the solid waste generated from different sources in the Valley.
It after perusal of compliance report filed by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation which revealed an alarming situation about the generation of different kind of solid waste emanating from different sources, the Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Rashid Ali Dar constituted a three member committee of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and newly appointed amicus Altaf Naik in the matter to oversee and cross check the functioning and management of all Municipal Committees of all districts as to whether the solid waste which comes out from all the sources is dealt and treated in tune with the provision of law.
The SMC, in its compliance report, submitted that the source of solid waste in the city is mainly residential, commercial, private slaughter houses, institutions, organizations like hospital, restaurants, industrial units, parks, gardens as also the construction and demolition waste which accumulates in tons per day and emphasis is being given to educate people to segregate the waste at source.
Court on consideration of the report and having regard to an alarming situation of increasing solid waste day by day as the same is not being treated and managed by the Corporation in tune with the SWM rules, directed for appointment of three member committee .
It is during the proceedings of the matter that court was informed the SMC is taking some times the solid waste outside the city and throw the same in open in the villages. Court on this extended the scope of the matter to all districts of the Kashmir division and directed the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to collect the report pertaining to management of solid waste generated from Municipal Committees of all districts of Kashmir division and make effective suggestion on management of the waste.
All Municipal Committees have been directed to cooperate with the newly appointed committee as and when they are asked by the committee. With regard to bio degradable and non bio degradable waste which comes out from all the hospitals whether private or Government, clinics, laboratories etc, directed the Regional Director Pollution Control Board to ensure inspection of all these institutions and ensure that these institutions are adhering disposal of the waste in tune with the Solid Waste Management rules and report the court.
The Court was about to direct the Regional Director PCB to seal such institutions if these institutions are found to be violating the SWM rules but prevented to pass such kind of direction in view of patients in these institutions.
He also directed the Commissioner SMC to submit a detailed report before the court with regard to functioning of sanitation wing and also update the conduct of integrated waste management facility. The Director Horticulture has been directed to ensure installation of organic compositor in fruit mandi and vegetable mandi in city.
The Commissioner SMC has been further directed to report to the court about the progress of installation of STP and mini compositor at waste dumping site Achan Srinagar. “The progress with reference to proposal of source segregation be also reported”, the court said.
Meantime, the SMC counsel submitted before the Court that as the Corporation has limited source of finance and Economic Reconstruction Agency has provided the Corporation 100 vehicles for collecting and carrying the solid waste to dumping site but due to dearth of driver staff in the Corporation, it was not in a position to hire drivers for these vehicles. The Court asked the H&UDD to consider the request of Corporation expeditiously.
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