NGT Directs State Pollution Control Board & Collector To Submit Action Taken Report Against Dumping Of Municipal Solid Waste In Wular Lake [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal has directed the State Pollution Control Board and Collector of Baramula district (member secretary of state wetland authority) to submit an action taken report with regard to dumping of municipal solid waste in Wular lake, one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia located in the Baramulla district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Coram of Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice SP Wangdi (Judicial Member), Dr.Satyawan Singh Garbyal and Dr.Nagin Nanda was hearing an original application registered based on a complaint received via email, filed by Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.

The complainant had alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Sopore along with the support of District Administration Baramulla is illegally dumping solid waste in Niglee Tarzoo area, which is a part of the lake, for the last four months (March onwards).

Moreover, the complainant contended that the lake in question is a wetland and a Ramsar site and is thus an eco-sensitive area. Dumping of waste is not only a violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 but also Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, Bhat argued.

"The Dumping municipal solid waste around Ningli Tarzoo is like committing a murder of nature and legitimizing this officially by Municipal Council Sopore and District Administration Baramulla. This is violation of wetland conservation rules 2017 and Solid waste management rules 2016. Govt has constructed several tourist huts near this area spending more than 5 crores. How can authorities be so callous" Dr Raja Muzaffar submitted.

The bench noted-

"In view of the allegation and the photographs annexed, we find it necessary to require a factual and action taken report from the Member Secretary, State Wetland Authority, Collector, Baramulla and the State Pollution Control Board before the next date by e-mail at judicialngt@gov.in preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF. The State PCB will be the nodal agency for co-ordination and compliance."

The next date of hearing in the matter is October 15, 2020

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