SRINAGAR April 10(KNS): The gram sabha’s of some village panchayats in Sopore area of district Baramulla on Saturday passed a unique resolution by asking Municipal Council Sopore to stop illegal garbage dumping on a village land which happens to be ecologically very sensitive area in view of being in close proximity with Wullar lake plus being a forest area as well. The resolution which was signed by 4 Sarpanches of Trazoo A, Tarzoo B , Tarzoo C and Rakhe Hiagam Darnambal along with members of Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo was adopted during a gram sabha held near the garbage dump site near Darnambal.
As per the statement issued to kashmikr news service (KNS) , a Joint Gram Sabha (Deh Majlis) of village Panchayats Darnambal , Tarzoo A , Tarzoo B , Tarzoo C and Rakh e Hiagam was held at Darnambal Block Sopore district Baramulla . Sarpanches , Panches of all the four panchayats participated in the meeting along with a large number of adults of these villages. In addition to it the members of local Forest Rights Committee and Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo were also present in the meeting.
The issue related to garbage dumping by Municipal Council Sopore was the main agenda of the meeting. It was unanimously resolved that municipal solid waste dumped in the area is violating the Municipal Solid Waste Rules and Wetland Conservation Rules 2017. The land on which Municipal Waste is being dumped is a Forest Land on which local population have certain rights under the Forest Rights Act which is also known as Community Forest Right (CFR), the community holding Forest Rights have certain duties as per section 5 of Forest Rights Act 2006 which includes protection of Wildlife , Forests and Biodiversity of the area “
“As section 5 (a) (b) (c) (d) of FRA 2006 empowers Gram Sabha to protect and preserve wildlife , forest and biodiversity of our villages Darnambal, Tarzoo A , B and C and Rakhe Haigam we resolve that Municipal Council Sopore should stop dumping Municipal Solid Waste in Darnambal area” the resolution further reads
Nazir Ahmad Rather Sarpanch Tarzoo C said that if the Govt will not respect our resolution , we will submit the same before the National Green Tribunal and other forums. He said that the High Court has already asked the District Administration to identify suitable land for waste processing , but the local Govt has identified a land which is Forest Land and an ecologically sensitive area.
“Govt must instead develop a Biodiversity park here , but they are dumping trash and dead animals , this is really unfortunate. Under Forest Rights Act section 5 local Gram Sabha has power to stop such illegal activities . We made the community aware about this legal provision and they adopted a resolution to stop the illegal practice. This is now a binding on the Govt and the Municipal Committee Sopore '' said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat social activist and Chairman J&K RTI Movement who was also invited during the gram sabha by local residents and Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo Sopore .(KNS)