New Delhi July 14 (KNS): National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a last opportunity to the Deputy Commissioner Poonch and Pollution Control Committee to submit a report on the dumping of municipal solid waste near Poonch river. A Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh (Chairperson), Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi (Judicial Member) and Dr A Senthil Vel (Expert Member) has given last opportunity to J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) and District Magistrate Poonch for giving factual status with regard to unscientific dumping of solid and bio-medical waste in Poonch river near Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge.While hearing Itisha Awasthi counsel for the petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the NGT bench observed :
“Grievance in this application is against unscientific dumping of solid waste and bio-medical waste in the area falling between Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge and the confluence of Poonch River and Belar Nala near Poonch town of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The order further reads :
“The matter was taken up by this Tribunal on 13.04.2023 and the J&K PCC and District Magistrate, Poonch were directed to verify facts and submit a factual and action taken report. UT of J&K also needs to comply with MSW Rules, 2016 and with the directions of the Tribunal’s order dated 20.10.2022 in OA No. 606/2018. In compliance thereof, no report has been filed. By way of last opportunity, let the same be filed within three months giving factual status in quantifiable terms and remedial actions taken”
The case has now been listed before the NGT on October 14th 2023.(KNS)