Srinagar: The J&K High Court has asked the union territory administration to come up with a vision plan for solid waste management.
A division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal after hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Environmental Policy Group expressed its disappointment over the inaction of the administration saying “despite repeated directions, respondents (concerned government functionaries) have not come out with any vision plan in relation to the disposal of solid waste.”
Conveying its angst, the bench said “enough time has been granted in the past and even costs have been imposed, but with no effect.”
In view of the situation, the court “called upon the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, to bring on record the vision plan regarding the disposal of solid waste for the whole of J&K.”
It asked the authorities “to come up with complete details of the steps so far taken and that are proposed to be taken and how much funds in this regard have been received from the Central government as well as the State government and how they have been utilized.”
“The Commissioner Secretary would file his personal affidavit, indicating compliance of each and every order so far passed by this court from time to time,” the court said and posted the matter for next hearing on 16th of next month.
Meanwhile, disposing of a similar plea by inhabitants of Parigam Wanpora and Tumchi Nowpora villages in Pulwama district, the court asked the petitioners to file a comprehensive representation raising all grievances in connection with the proposed solid waste site.
It further asked them to file particulars of the treatment plant in accordance with the integrated solid waste management strategy 2017 at Parigam before the Deputy Commissioner of the south Kashmir district.
“In the event, any such representation is filed within a period of two weeks from today, the Deputy Commissioner shall accord consideration to the same in accordance with law and pass suitable order after due consideration of the government policy in this regard and conduct verification of the entire facts as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three months,” directed the court.
