NGT directs Comm / Secy Environment Forest to file affidavit
Srinagar May 23 (KNS): As Srinagar Municipal Corporation -SMC , Urban Environmental Engineering Department-UEED and Housing & Urban Development Department have failed to set up multiple sewerage plants-STPs around Doodh Ganga in Chadoora town and Srinagar municipal corporation limits , the National Green Tribunal’s -NGT ‘s Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Srivastava – (Chairperson NGT) and Dr Afroz Ahmad- ( Expert Member) has directed the Commissioner Secretary Environment & Forest Department UT of J&K to file a written statement through an affidavit mentioning the timeline for setting up the STPs. The order was pronounced on Thursday in the case of Raja Muzaffar Bhat v/s Union of India and others. The petitioner moved to NGT around 4 years back when authorities failed to control the illegal waste dumping , discharge of sewerage and illegal mining in Doodh Ganga around Chadoora and Srinagar areas. In addition to it the petition mentions pollution in Mamath Kul of Budgam as well for which Municipal Council Budgam has been already been held responsible and huge environmental compensation -EC has been imposed on it along with Municipal Committee Chadoora
Regarding setting up of STP in Municipal Council, Budgam, Chadoora and Srinagar the Tribunal in the proceedings dated 10.07.2024 had taken note of the fact that in MC, Budgam 1.62 MLD sewage is generated per day but no STP exist and in MC Chadoora, 4.30 MLD of sewage is generated per day but no STP exist and in Srinagar as compared to the daily generation of sewage of 163.546 MLD the treatment is roughly about 60 MLD. The observation of the
Tribunal in the proceedings dated 10.07.2024 in this regard was :
“ On the query put by us during the course of arguments, Shri Harikishan, Technical Officer, presently virtually has informed that so far as the Municipal Council, Budgam is concerned, 1.62 MLD sewage is generated per day within the Municipal Council and presently, there
there is no facility existing in the Municipal Council, Budgam to treat that sewage. Meaning thereby, entire untreated sewage is going to the river as no STP exists in the Municipal Council, Budgam. The report filed on 09.07.2024 is silent about it. It only states that a project report has
been prepared for establishment of Fecal Sewage Treatment Plant- FSTP with the capacity of 05 KLD for Budgam and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with the capacity of 1.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel66 MLD for Budgam “
As far as, MC, Chadoora is concerned, the report dated 09.07.2024 was silent about the daily generation of sewage and the existing treatment facility.
“Shri Harikishan, Technical Officer HUDD h informed that within MC, Chadoora, 4.30 MLD of sewage is generated per day and presently, no STP exists. Meaning thereby, entire untreated sewage is either flowing to the river or getting collected somewhere causing enormous pollution. We have been informed that a 6 MLD STP is proposed in MC, Chadoora but no timeline for setting it up has been disclosed “ reads the NGT order
“In respect of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, as compared to the daily generated sewage of 163.546 MLD, the treatment is roughly about 60 MLD. Hence, a huge quantity of untreated sewage is flowing in the river. We also find Let this affidavit be filed in 8 weeks “that performance of existing STPs have not been disclosed and water quality of Mamath Kull and Doodh Ganga has also not been disclosed with respect to
prescribed standards.” NGT ‘s Principal Bench observed
NGT’s Principal Bench order further reads
“As Ambika Bali, Under Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department appearing virtually also could not give any satisfactory explanation as to why the STP for treatment in the above two urban local areas have not been set up. Thus, we require the Secretary, Environment to file an affidavit disclosing the timeline for setting up the STP for treatment of sewage generated in the Municipal Council, Budgam, Chadoora and Srinagar along with the official responsible for executing it and the phase manner in which it will be executed with the household connectivity “
Commissioner Secretary Environment & Forest J&K Govt has been directed to file an affidavit in 8 weeks of time.
"I am sure Commissioner Secretary Environment / Forest will take this issue seriously as the Govt has already issued funds to the tune of Rs 141 Crores for STPs almost 1 year back but the work is not being taken up. Even today on Friday morning i saw untreated sewage being flushed into Doodh Ganga at Barzulla . I am ready to assist Secretary Environment on this issue at any point of time as and when she requires " said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat petitioner in this case (KNS)