New Delhi, Sept 27(KNS): The Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that action for imposing Environmental Compensation on Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Municipal Council Chadoora, and Municipal Council Budgam will be taken within six weeks. Ground reports indicate that large-scale pollution continues to affect the Doodh Ganga stream in Chadoora and Srinagar, as well as Mamath Kul in Budgam.
The NGT has also sought detailed information from the Commissioner Secretary, Environment & Forest Department, J&K, regarding the setting up of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) along Doodh Ganga, with a clear timeline for completion.
Petitioner Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat told the tribunal that illegal mining over the past three to four years has weakened the embankments of Doodh Ganga, causing soil erosion, landslides, and breaches in three irrigation channels—Kralpur Kul, Doyan Kul, and Masar Kul—affecting over 5,000 kanals of agricultural land.
The case was listed before the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Srivastava, Chairman of NGT, and Dr. Senthil Veil, Expert Member, in New Delhi. Dr. Bhat was represented by environmental lawyers Rahul Chowdhary and Kaustav Dhar, while the J&K government was represented by Advocates Gautam Singh and Suman Arora (CPCB).Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The NGT bench expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response regarding STP construction from Barzulla to Chadoora, observing that no clear timeline had been provided and that the status of STPs in Budgam (Mamath Kul) remained undisclosed. The tribunal directed the Secretary, Environment, to file a fresh affidavit specifying the outer time-limit for STP construction, commissioning, and 100% household connectivity.
The JKPCC also confirmed that municipal councils—SMC, MC Chadoora, and MC Budgam—had violated the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Action for imposing environmental compensation will be taken, with a report due within six weeks.
The government has been granted six weeks to respond to allegations regarding illegal mining, landslides, and damage to Doodh Ganga embankments and irrigation channels during recent floods.
Previously, substantial environmental compensation has been imposed in the case: SMC paid Rs 1 crore in 2022 and Rs 42 crore last year, while MC Chadoora and Budgam paid Rs 1 crore each in 2022. The Mining Department, Budgam, also contributed Rs 1 crore.(KNS).