Damage to natural flow, flora & fauna of Devika River
*MC Udhampur passing bucks over several key issues
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 11: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to ensure compliance of the action points identified by the Joint Committee on the directions of the National Green Tribunal and submit Action Taken Report within 15 days so as to prevent damage to natural flow and flora & fauna of Devika River in Udhampur district.
Moreover, the perusal of the communication of the Central Pollution Control Board, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, revealed that Municipal Council Udhampur is the main culprit and instead of taking necessary corrective measures this Urban Local Body is just passing the bucks over several key issues.
While sharing the copy of Joint Inspection Report in the Original Application titled Rohit Padha Versus Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Others, the CPCB vide its communication dated January 10, 2024 has asked the Member Secretary, J&K Pollution Control Committee to ensure compliance of the identified action points.
“The JKPCC should direct the concerned agencies-Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) and Municipal Council (MC), Udhampur for ensuring compliance of the action points pertaining to them and the Action Taken Report should be submitted within 15 days”, read the letter written by P K Mishra, Divisional Head WQM-I Div of CPCB to Member Secretary J&K Pollution Control Committee.
As far as UEED is concerned, the CPCB said, “the solid and the plastic waste which was observed to be dumped in Devika River at Devika Ghat has been removed. However, nallahs meeting the river were observed to be still carrying municipal solid and plastic waste. The Municipal Council Udhampur has not provided any Action Plan along with time-line for removing sludge and dredging of Devika River”.
It has also been pointed out that Municipal Council Udhampur has approached the Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu for provision of funds for removal and dredging of Devika River. “The matter should be taken up with the concerned department at the administrative level for early release of funds”, the CPCB has stressed.
Pointing towards 73 encroachments on the banks of Devika River provided by Department of Revenue, the CPCB said, “the Chief Executive Officer of Municipal Council Udhampur was requested vide letter dated December 6, 2023 to verify whether or not building permissions were issued to the encroachers and initiate proceedings to evict them. However, Action Plan is yet to be prepared and implemented”, adding “no clearance for the site at village Maand has been obtained till date and this has now become another legacy waste site in Udhampur”.
“The mixed Municipal Solid Waste is being dumped at this site without taking any measures to prevent environmental damage and during rainy reason the waste will flow downhill and into natural drains leading to contamination of the river”, the CPCB said.
It has also been observed that J&K Pollution Control Committee has not taken any action against Municipal Council Udhampur for operating site without necessary permission. Moreover, information about recovery of Environmental Compensation from the Municipal Council Udhampur has not been provided.
As per the communication, out of seven hotels, three are running with CTO (Consent To Operate) of JKPCC and are operational under norms as well. J&KPCC has issued final notices to 3 hotels and thereafter also recommended for closure proceedings and the closure orders will be issued after approval from the competent authority. Moreover, closure order has already been issued to Hotel Singh Axis.
Moreover, JKPCC has issued notices to all three banquet halls and even recommended closure proceedings vide letter dated December 4, 2023 and closure orders will be issued shortly after approval from the competent authority.
Likewise, legal notices have been issued to car washing units and they have submitted that they have approached the UEED to connect the units with sewerage network once the same is completed. Action should be initiated if they fail to get their effluent system connected with the sewerage network, the CPCB said.
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