Srinagar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that authorities have not shown any progress on the ground level with regard to controlling pollution in Doodh Ganga stream that flows through Budgam and Srinagar districts and happens to be the source of drinking water for more than half million population in Srinagar uptown.
The bench of Justice Sudhir Aggarwal and Dr A Senthil Vel (Expert Member) in an order passed on Wednesday said that no actual progress at the ground level has been shown in the Action Taken Report submitted by Housing and Urban Development Department J&K Govt. The case titled Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat v/s Union of India and others has again been listed for hearing on May 29th and Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been asked to file an affidavit in support of his claim that some action on the ground has been taken. The order reads :
“Principal Secretary, Urban Development is present and refers to the Action Taken Report but we find that virtually it reiterates the same facts as were noticed in our order dated 14.10.2022. No actual progress at the ground level has been shown. Municipal Commissioner, Srinagar is also present and states that in fact some steps have been taken. If that be so, let him place on record the current position at the ground level by filing a proper affidavit. Such reports need to be in the context of remediating existing dumping sites, providing adequate waste processing facilities and preventing discharge of sewage from dewatering pits in Doodh Ganga and Mamath Kul. As requested by all parties put up the matter on 29.05.2023”
Advocate Itisha Awasthi who is the counsel of the petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat appeared before the NGT bench sought time to respond to the action taken report of HUDD & Pollution Control Committee.
“The reports were submitted on May 23rd and the case was listed on May 24th so my counsel had very less time to respond. We will respond to it before May 29th. As we have gone through the report I have noticed that many facts have been hidden , action has not been taken against the real culprits by the Pollution Control Committee involved in illegal mining and instead some tipper and trolley drivers who were penalized more than a year back by Geology & Mining Department have been again been heavily penalized . No action has been taken against the Geology & Mining Department who are involved in this criminal act in Budgam especially. With regard to pollution in Doodh Ganga the STPs have not been installed even as NGT was given assurance about it around a year back. The untreated water continues to flow into Doodh Ganga from Chadoora to Tengpora via Chanapora , Natipora and Barzulla where pump stations have been set up by ERA & SMC ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar the petitioner in the case.
