Disposal of solid waste

26/01/2020

Illegal and unscientific dumping and disposal of solid waste by the Municipal Council Udhampur, the Pollution Control Board took up the issue with the Deputy Commissioner Udhampur and Chief Executive Officer of Udhampur Municipal Council through series of communications. Taking serious note of the failure of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Municipal Council Udhampur to pay Rs 1.39 crore Environmental Compensation within the stipulated time-frame, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board has asked the Deputy Commissioner Udhampur to recover the amount along with the interest as arrears of land revenue so that directions of the National Green Tribunal are implemented in letter and spirit. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dealing with a case had decided to levy Environmental Compensation under the 'Polluter Pays Principle'. The Tribunal even prepared formula for working out the compensation for polluting environment through effluents, municipal solid waste and sewage etc.
However, there was no positive response and reckless handling and disposal of solid waste on the hill slopes alongside National Highway continued besides putting a part of the waste to fire intermittently in brazen violation of the directions of the NGT. A period of 45 days was provided to the CEO Municipal Council Udhampur for depositing the amount in the online bank account of the Pollution Control Board failing which interest at the rate of 12% on the compensation amount shall accrue at his own risk and responsibility. CEO of the Municipal Council has compelled the Pollution Control Board to exercise powers under Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 read with Section 33(A) and 31 (A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 respectively. The Pollution Control Board has directed the Deputy Commissioner/ District Magistrate Udhampur to recover the Environmental Compensation to the tune of Rs 1.39 crore with interest at the rate of 12% from January 6, 2010 when the period of 45 days lapsed as arrears of land revenue from the CEO and deposit the same in the online bank account of the Board immediately. The shocking aspect is that even those at the helm of affairs in the Housing and Urban Development Department never made efforts to put an end to the illegal and unscientific dumping and disposal of solid waste by the Municipal Council Udhampur although information in this regard was furnished to them by the Pollution Control Board much before the imposition of Rs 1.39 crore Environmental Compensation.

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