Spike in Pollution inside Nashri Tunnel, JK Govt gives NHAI 15 days to submit report

‘May refer case to national agency for pollution control if report turns unsatisfactory’

‘May refer case to national agency for pollution control if report turns unsatisfactory’

Srinagar, Dec 01 (KNS): After receiving the plethora of complaints related to the surge in pollution levels inside the Nashri Tunnel on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway, the Committee on Environment of J&K Legislative Assembly has given the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) 15 days time to submit a detailed report in this regard.
The Environment Committee of State’s legislative Assembly, headed by the legislator Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that he himself visited the Tunnel along with the senior state government officials including Deputy Commissioner Ramban and senior R&B officials to get a first hand report about the complaints pouring in from people about the spike in dust and smoke inside the tunnel- believed to be Asia’s longest tunnel so far. “There were complaints against the NHAI about it not taking any measures to check the pollution levels inside the tunnel, so I visited the spot myself to check the measures so far taken by the NHAI in this regard,” Tarigami said.
The senior legislator added that he has directed the concerned agency and the NHAI to raise the height of the exhaust fan outlets and press into service the mechanical vacuum cleaners- that so far were missing inside the tunnel. “The Committee also suggested that water sprinkling must be done twice a day so that the dust that inundates the vehicles travelling through the tunnel must cease at an earliest,” Tarigami told KNS.
It was informed further that the NHAI has been given 15 days of time to submit the Action Taken Report before the committee and if the committee wouldn’t get a satisfactory response from the Highway Authority of India, it would refer the case to a reputed national agency for pollution control. “Yes, if need arises, we will for sure refer the case to a reputed national agency for environment and pollution control for evaluation,” Tarigami who heads the committee said. (KNS)
 

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