JMC’s illegal activity further deteriorating air quality
*Mechanism for scientific disposal remains a dream
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 12: Despite blanket ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) several years back, there is no end to the open burning of municipal solid waste in different parts of Jammu, which has already been declared as non-attainment city because of poor air quality.
This is mainly because the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has failed to evolve any mechanism for scientific disposal of garbage/municipal solid waste ever since its creation several decades back.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in the month of December 2016, the National Green Tribunal, while dealing with Original Application Number 593, imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places across the country and even announced a fine of Rs 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning.
“For each such incident, violators including project proponent, concessionaire, any person or body responsible for such burning, shall be liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 in case of simple burning while Rs 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning,” the NGT had mentioned in the order.
Even the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board vide Order No 28 of 2020 dated February 4, 2020 imposed restrictions on open burning of municipal solid waste, biomass, plastic waste and horticulture waste etc and issued statutory directions to all Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Municipal Committees and Municipal Councils) across the Union Territory for strict compliance.
“However, there is no end to open burning of garbage/municipal solid waste in Jammu city and most astonishingly by the Jammu Municipal Corporation, which otherwise should play crucial role in ensuring strict implementation of the orders of the National Green Tribunal and Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board”, sources said, “if the Municipal Corporation is itself openly violating the ban order of the NGT how it would ensure compliance to the same by others”.
Several glaring instances of open burning of garbage have come to the notice during the past some days. EXCELSIOR has noticed open burning of garbage along the road sides in Krishna Nagar, Jewel, Bahu Plaza, near Jammu University and Narwal areas regularly.
“The non-serious approach towards the National Green Tribunal and J&K PCB orders is notwithstanding the fact that Jammu has already been declared as non-attainment city for not being able to maintain prescribed air quality”, sources further said.
They said, “by openly burning the garbage the Jammu Municipal Corporation is further deteriorating the air quality and putting the lives of the people to grave risk particularly at the COVID-19 times as burning of municipal solid waste generates lots of poisonous gases”, adding “the Union Health Ministry, Union Ministry of Environment and Central Pollution Control Boards are repeatedly laying thrust on controlling the air pollution as the same carries the risk of spreading the deadly Novel Coronavirus particularly during the winter months”.
It is a matter of serious concern that ever since its creation the Jammu Municipal Corporation has failed to evolve any mechanism for scientific disposal of municipal solid waste. “This is also clear indicative of the fact that proper planning never received serious attention of those who remained at the helm of affairs in the Corporation from time to time”, sources said.
The open burning of municipal solid waste is not only the violation of the National Green Tribunal and J&K PCB orders but also against the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 where under such an activity is strictly prohibited, sources said.
“Either those at the helm of affairs in the Corporation are completely ignorant about open burning of garbage by field staff or not interested in implementing the orders of the NGT and JKPCB aimed at preventing further deterioration in the air quality of city of temples”.
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