Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 28: High Court has directed the Government to prevent the pollution and environmental degradation of Doodhganga stream in Srinagar and closed the PIL on its deteriorating condition as the matter is pending in National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice M A Chowdhary closed the PIL as the court has been informed that the NGT at New Delhi is seized of the matter. This Public Interest Litigation was initiated on the basis of a news item captioned “Doodhganga no more milky-courtesy official apathy”
The Suomoto Cognizance has been taken to media reports alleging indifference lack of concern of the concerned Government officials to the pollution of the water of Nalla Doodhganga, especially at the spot the Water Filtration Plant is situated at Kralapora in Tehsil Chadoora, District Budgam, which supplies potable water to lakhs of consumers in the Districts of Budgam and Srinagar.
The report depicts prevalence of a grave situation all over the course of the Nalla, from its source to the Water Filtration Plant, in the shape of health hazardous materials of sorts and pollutants being lead into, thrown and dumped in the water course or its banks, risking the public hygiene, environment and ecology of the Nalla.
A response filed by advocate Shaqir Haqani, amicus in rebuttal to the compliance report filed by the Pollution Control Board which reveals that a similar application raising the issue which has been raised in this appeal was filed before the National Green Tribunal. The response of the amicus further discloses that NGT has taken cognizance of the matter and issued several directions from time to time.
Court on perusal of order passed by NGT said the same clarifies that the issue is pending consideration of the NGT Delhi and a very effective directions have been passed to tackle the issue of pollution of Doodhganga Stream and Doodhganga Filtration Plant.
“In this view, we are satisfied that with the intervention of NGT, Delhi, the needful shall be done by the Union Territory of J&K to prevent the pollution and environmental degradation of Doodhganga Stream and Doodhganga Filtration Plant”, reads the order.
Follow our WhatsApp channel