SrinagarNational Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed J&K Chief Secretary to ensure there were no administrative delays in setting up of a waste-to-energy power plant at Achan, the only garbage dumping site for this summer capital of the state.
In fact, the Green panel asked the state government to commence the work for establishing the plant at the site by mid November.
A bench of NGT headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar passed orders after advocate G. M. Kawoosa, states counsel, placed a copy of decision of the Cabinet giving approval to the proposal for establishment of the waste-to-energy plant at Srinagar. He also submitted that some time would be needed to complete the formality and award work to the successful bidder.
In view of the statement made, we direct the Chief Secretary of State of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that the compliance to the Cabinet decision should be made without default and delay…we do hope that before the next date of hearing, the work shall be awarded and in fact preferably commenced at the site in question (Achan), said the panel also comprising Justice Jawad Rahim (judicial member) and Bikram Singh Sajwan (expert member) and order listing of the matter in Mid November.
We make it clear that we will not grant any further time on any ground whatsoever as it is merely an administrative compliance now to be made by the Department of Jammu and Kashmir, the panel added.
The NGT had proposed the setting of the plant to the SMC almost three years ago and its aim was to end the crisis of solid waste management in Srinagar and to create a mechanism for waste management at an affordable cost.
Previously, the NGT had underlined that huge municipal waste was causing serious environmental pollution, even affecting water bodies like Dal Lake and its various segments.
It had said that the people of the city, particularly the residents of nearby villages have a right for decent environment which is being degrading continuously, affecting public health and adverse environmental impact because of inaction on the part of the State.
We are informed that nearly 450 MT of waste per day is being generated. To us it appears that this would convert the most beautiful city of our country into a waste dump deposit centre. We have been granting adjournment to the State of (J&K), considering that the State will take effective steps, but we are now realizing that for all this time the Tribunal had been passing various directions which still remain to be complied with and there is a need for expeditious action on the part of the State, the panel had said.
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