Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 10: National Green Tribunal has sought report from the State Government on dumping of municipal solid waste in unscientific manner in the wetlands in the State.
Hearing an application filed by one Raja Muzaffer Bhat seeking various directions on protection and preservation of wetlands in the State, the National Green Tribunal sought factual and action taken report from Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board, Department of Wildlife Protection and Deputy Commissioner Budgam within two months.
Applicant Raja seeks direction be issued to the authorities to take immediate steps to stop any kind of dumping of municipal solid wastes into the Hokersar Wetland and the Wular Lake in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
He further prays that a direction be issued to the Government to take immediate steps to expeditiously remove all dredged material that has been callously disposed off in the Hokersar Wetland and to prohibit the Government for further construction on the wetlands and remove the encroachments erected on the wetlands. Further, directions must be passed for the revival and restoration of the wetlands.
Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, chairperson, Justice K Ramakrishnan, Judicial member Dr Nagin Nanda, expert member while seeking report from the authorities directed the action taken reports be sent to Tribunal via email. “The nodal agency for coordination and compliance will be the Department of Wildlife Protection”, NTG said.
Applicant in his application submits that the municipal solid waste is being dumped into the Hokersar Wetland, Wular Lake and Kreentchoo-Chandhara Wetland in district Budgam in Kashmir.
Further, unscientific dredging and illegal encroachments along the wetlands have increased the siltation in the wetlands, consequently reducing their carrying capacity and thereby increasing the threat of flood from the River Jhelum.
It is submitted that three wetlands namely- Hokersar, Wular Lake and Kreentchoo-Chandhara are major wetlands in the State of Jammu and Kashmir and are popular breeding grounds for the migration of a diverse range of birds from China and Central Asia.
Follow our WhatsApp channel