STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan on Thursday disposed off a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Sanjeet Kumar seeking pollution free environment in J&K State with the direction to respondents that they shall identify land fill sites in each city/town of J&K State, if not already identified, within a period of six months from today for dumping and disposal of solid wastes.
Advocate Jatinder Singh appeared for the PIL, Senior AAG S.S Nanda for the State whereas Senior Advocate D.C Raina with Advocate Anuj Dewan Raina represented the Shrine Board.
The court has given the directions after going through the latest compliance report filed by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu on 11th November 2016.
The respondents were also directed to set up well efficient Solid Waste Management Projects in each such site within a period of next six months, in the manner given in Implementation Schedule (Schedule-I) of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 framed under Sections 3, 6 and 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. DB also directed Chief Secretary of the State to set up a panel of experts within a period of fifteen days from today for this purpose.
DB also directed concerned Municipal Authorities of the State to set up Vermicompost Technology within the same period at small scale levels to manage the daily waste at source viz. hotels, parks, etc.
DB also directed respondents and other concerned agencies of the State to ensure and make sanitation drives for cleanliness of dumped solid waste on the mountain slopes so as to preserve the plantation and green cover and also directed to set up Biogas Plants within the same period in the State, wherever it is necessary.
DB further observed that this Court vide order dated 30th October 2013 directed the respondents to submit a report indicating what steps they have taken for removal of garbage from areas of Udhampur City mentioned in the petition as well as dumping and disposal of solid waste. In response to the said order, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu filed the status report revealing the steps taken to identify and acquire land in different towns and municipalities of Jammu Division to set up land fill site for disposal of municipal waste in accordance with the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. Being not satisfied, this Court vide order dated 10th September 2014 directed the respondents to file fresh status report.
Accordingly, fresh status report was filed on 10th September 2014 indicating the status of land identified for land fill site at Udhampur, however, no status had been filed in respect of other towns. Accordingly, vide order dated 13th November 2014, Divisional Commis-sioner, Jammu was directed to file fresh status report in respect of rest of the areas by drawing a road map to complete the acquisition process. Divisional Commi-ssioner, Jammu, accordingly filed a latest status report on 11th November 2016 indicating the steps taken for setting up Solid Waste Management System.