Srinagar, May 27(KNS): As National Green Tribunal (NGT) takes unscientific waste management and illegal Riverbed Mining in Doodh Ganga stream seriously, Govt has launched a mega sanitation drive around Doodh Ganga on the direction of Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD).
On Thursday Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Athar Aamir Khan, DC Budgam Akshay Labroo & Chief Engineer UEED Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Kakroo personally visited several areas around Doodh Ganga and directed the authorities to clear all the legacy waste lying around the stream. The officers along with senior officials of SMC , UEED , Flood Control Department along with District Officers from Budgam visited Chanapora Bridge pump station , Bagh e Mehtab , Kralpora areas to see the condition of the stream. At Kralpora the SMC Commissioner directed his Chief Sanitation Officer N A Baba to send sanitation workers from SMC to clear the waste.
“ On Friday around 70 to 80 sanitation workers led by Zonal Sanitation Officer Bashir Ahmad Lone and other officers visited Kralpora and cleared the waste around the old bridge and banks of Doodh Ganga. Almost 70 % of the waste was cleared but more needs to be done. We are grateful to the SMC Commissioner and DC Budgam for visiting our area . We are also thankful to NGT for its intervention especially” said Raashed Ashraf, a local social worker from Kralpora which is located mere 8 km from the city center.
As per reports the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir (DULB-K) Muthara Masoom also visited the site on Friday around Sogam , Chadoora town , Hanjigund , Wathoora and Goplapora. She directed Municipal Council Chadoora to clear all the legacy waste around Doodh Ganga and the localities she visited.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, social activist and petitioner in the NGT has appreciated the efforts of SMC Commissioner, DC Budgam , Director ULB Kashmir and Chief Engineer UEED. He said this activity must continue.
“ I appreciate the Govt has finally acted , I am grateful to our two young IAS officers Athar Amir Khan and Akshay Labroo especially for visiting the Doodh Ganga a few days back. I am also thankful to Muthara Masoom Director ULB K and Chief Engineer UEED Kashmir. I hope Kralpora and Mochwa areas will be taken care of by SMC in future also and waste collection vehicles should be asked to clear waste from these areas. I have requested Director ULB Kashmir to direct MC Chadoora to collect waste from Hanjigund, Batpora, Wathoora , Gopalpora on a regular basis. I am happy to see that my petition in NGT is showing some good results on the ground. A lot more is to be done vis a vis liquid waste management and controlling illegal Riverbed Mining as well “ said Dr Raja Muzaffar
NGT recently in its order dated May 24th had said that authorities had not shown any progress on the ground level with regard to controlling pollution in the Doodh Ganga stream. After that, the Govt came into action . The matter is again listed for hearing on Monday May 29th 2023.(KNS).