Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 15: A committee from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) visited the Achan dumping site operated by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in Srinagar to investigate its environmental impact and hazardous effects on the area.
Recently, a committee of environmental experts was formed to address issues at the Achan dumping site. They plan to report their findings within eight weeks. This committee was established following concerns raised by activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat regarding regulatory violations and environmental issues.
The Joint Committee members comprised representatives from the Member Secretary of CPCB, the National Wetland Committee, MoEF & CC, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, and Member Secretary of J&K PCC, with the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar serving as the nodal agency.
The Zoonimar Social Welfare Committee also submitted a memorandum to the NGT, highlighting community concerns and the adverse impacts of the dumping. According to their statement, “The dumping at this site has been ongoing since 1980, affecting what was once a wetland and agricultural area. Approximately 10 lakh people are experiencing severe hardships due to foul odors, and nearly 8,000-10,000 kanals of land have become barren.”
They further emphasized the health risks. “If a health survey is conducted, nearly 80 percent of the local population would show signs of disease. NGT gives us hope. We are non-political and united in our demand to close this dumping site. SKIMS hospital is nearby, and Anchar Lake, once fertile, has been devastated with no vegetation thriving,” he said.
Dr. Raja Muzaffar, the activist who filed the case with the NGT, expressed grave concerns. “The lives of people here have become unbearable. Around 650 metric tons of untreated waste are dumped here daily, disrupting daily life and severely affecting the local environment. The nearby wetlands are directly impacted by leachate, affecting agricultural lands and biodiversity. Social issues have arisen, with residents facing difficulties such as reluctance to marry due to the environmental conditions,” he said.
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