Lambasting the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the municipal waste scattered across Srinagar, the National Green Tribunal today warned that it would order dumping of all trash in the Secretariat complex if its orders were not implemented within a week.
Asserting that it would hold top officers, including the chief secretary, personally responsible for ensuring compliance of its orders passed a year ago, the green panel took the state administration to task over the delay in setting up of a waste-to-energy plant in Srinagar despite its order. The delay was ruining the area known for its beauty, the panel added.
“It is one of the most beautiful cities. Where are you using the money allotted to you? You are just putting the common man in trouble,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
“At least have a provision for the municipal solid waste collection and segregation or else we will direct the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to dump all the waste in the Secretariat.”
The Tribunal granted one week to the state government to comply with its order and ensure that there is no scattering of municipal solid waste in the city. It warned that in the event of default, the Chief Secretary, other concerned secretaries and commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation would be personally held responsible.
“Why don’t you have dustbins and waste collection provisions? Does that require Cabinet approval? We are shocked to see that there is no dustbin in the entire Srinagar area.
“There are stray dogs and municipal waste lying everywhere. Why don’t you set up a municipal solid waste plant? You cannot block everything and let people suffer and die. We understand the financial aspects but you have to find some solution. This project will generate energy in lieu of waste and still you are doing nothing,” it said.
The green panel expressed displeasure over the government’s attitude in the matter and noted that tenders were awarded by the state as per its own terms but the entire project remained stalled for a considerable period on the pretext that the rate of power purchase demanded by the bidder was high.
“You better do something or we will appoint a court commissioner to ascertain the actual condition of Srinagar. If there is a drop of waste or lapse found in collection of municipal solid waste, your Secretary will pay for it. In January 2015, we had passed an order for establishment of waste-to-energy plant. The whole year has passed and still you have done nothing,” it said.
The Tribunal noted that on an average 500 metric ton of the waste was produced a day in Srinagar and it was a statutory obligation on the government to ensure that the municipal solid waste is dealt in a manner that it does not cause health hazard.
Keep Srinagar clean or will dump trash in Sectt – National Green Tribunal
