NGT expresses dissatisfaction over Action Taken Report
*DM, CEO directed to remain present on next date
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 17: The Housing and Urban Development Department has attached Executive Officer, Municipal Council Udhampur for slackness in Devika River cleaning while as National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed dissatisfaction over the Action Taken Report and directed the head of the Council as well as District Magistrate Udhampur to remain present on next date of hearing.
“In view of the consistent non-performance, laxity in handling of door to door collection, non-operationalization of Material Recovery Facility (MRF), slackness in Devika cleaning and non-compliance of directions issued from time to time, Amit Sharma, Executive Officer, Municipal Council Udhampur is attached with the Special Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department with immediate effect”, read an order issued by Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Meanwhile, National Green Tribunal has expressed dissatisfaction over the Action Taken Report submitted by the Municipal Council Udhampur and sought appearance of head of the Urban Local Body and District Magistrate Udhampur on next date of hearing—May 16, 2024.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Bench of NGT comprising of Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson), Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member Dr A Senthil observed, “in this original application, issue raised relates to pollution of River Devika at district Udhampur. Tribunal in the order dated 17.10.2023 had observed that there was unrestricted discharge of municipal solid waste as well as plastic waste through nallas and drains leading to the river”.
“Tribunal had constituted a joint committee which had submitted the report observing that all the monitored nallas/drains carrying municipal solid waste and plastic waste along with the flowing water are resulting in deposition of these waste into river indicating the mismanagement of municipal solid waste”, the Bench further observed.
Tribunal in the proceedings dated 12.01.2024 had considered the issue in detail and had recorded that as per the report, Municipal Council, Udhampur was one of the main defaulter.
Action Taken Report submitted by Municipal Council Udhampur reveals that within the Municipal Council Udhampur around 40 tonnes per day of waste is generated, out of which 5 tonnes of dry waste is processed at Material Recovery Facility site at Sui Jhakkaar and 20 compost pits have been constructed for processing of 1.5 tonnes of wet waste, the NGT said.
“However, nothing relevant has been indicated as to how the remaining 33.5 tonnes per day waste is treated. Report states that some steps were taken for setting up a solid waste management plant of 30 TPD at Maand site but it is reflected that further action was not taken on account of lack of option for such project at Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee Single Window Portal”, the NGT pointed out.
The Tribunal has further mentioned that report filed by Municipal Council Udhampur does not reflect any time-bound action plan to remediate the legacy waste and also any proposed action for 100% remediation of daily generated waste. “Report also does not reflect the action taken by Municipal Council to prevent discharge of sewage and municipal solid waste in the River Devika through the drains”, the NGT said and directed the head of the Municipal Council Udhampur to file a fresh Action Taken Report disclosing the time-bound plan for remediating the situation.
“Vide previous order we had directed the personal appearance of District Magistrate Udhampur. An application seeking exemption from personal appearance has been moved on the ground that she being the District Election Officer is involved in the meetings relating to the forthcomings elections. Hence, prayer is allowed and application is accordingly disposed of”, the Tribunal said.
Now, NGT has directed that report in terms of the directions be filed by head of Municipal Council, Udhampur at least one week before the next date of hearing and he along with District Magistrate Udhampur shall remain present by virtual mode on the next date of hearing.
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