New Delhi- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) while taking serious notice of illegal clay mining in Karewas of Budgam has issued a notice to the J&K Government through the Chief Secretary , National Highways Authority of India -NHAI and construction company NKC Projects Pvt Ltd .
The notice was issued by the three member Principal Bench of the NGT headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson of the tribunal. Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Judicial Member and Dr Afroz Ahmad, Expert Member – EM were also present during the case hearing. The application was moved Sharma and Advocate Bijay Kumar
The NGT in its May 27th order reads, “The grievance of the applicants is that on account of construction of Srinagar Ring Road Passing through Village Wathoora, Tehsil Chadoora in District Budgam in Jammu & Kashmir, the flooding of the apple orchards of the applicant has taken place. Submission of the Counsel for the applicant is that the water channel has been blocked in the process of construction of the road, resultantly, the waterlogging has taken place and flooding has damaged approximately three acres of the orchard land of the applicants. In support of the said plea, the applicant has relied upon the photographs enclosed along with the original application -OA”
The petitioners further grievance submitted before NGT is that construction of the new highway has been causing dust pollution and the same is adversely affecting the orchards of the applicant and other farmers spread over a large area in the villages of Khanda Suthsoo, Gowherpora, Wathora Bugam, Lalgam, Ganjibagh, Lal Gund, Gudsathoo, Wulnu, Ichgam and Dharmunad. The apple orchards, fruit plant nurseries and crops like oats , peas and mustard have been impacted a lot.
The order further reads, “It is also the grievance of the applicant that during the construction process, reckless excavation of clay from Karewas, a unique geological formation in Kashmir has impacted the ecology. The original application -OA raises substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms. Issue notice to the respondents for filing their response at least one week before the next date of hearing by e-mail at [email protected] preferably in the form of searchable PDF/ OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF “ the order further reads
The locals of Wathoora and other villages of Chadoora Budgam have expressed happiness over the NGTs intervention. We hope to get justice from this court as local administration has failed to address our grievance
“ We had approached many Govt officers including SDM Chadoora , Chief Horticulture Officer and the construction company but they didn’t act at all. Even Chairman DDC Budgam has written an official letter to Chairman NHAI but there was no action at all and we were forced to seek judicial intervention from NGT,” said Dr Raja Muzaffar, an RTI activist who has been highlighting this issue and motivated the locals to take this matter to NGT.
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