The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian to disclose details of individuals/children who have tested positive for jaundice in the last three months.
The Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr A. Senthil Vel examining the issue of outbreak of Jaundice in Pahnoo Village of South Kashmir’s Shopian.
In the proceedings dated 16.05.2024, the Tribunal had noted that with the report of the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&KPCC), the water quality analysis in respect of faecal coliform was filed whereas jaundice is caused by virus and not by bacteria. Accordingly, the Tribunal had observed that proper water quality analysis with correct parameters is required to be done.
The Member Secretary, J&KPCC referring to the latest report of the J&KPCC filed on 12.07.2024 has submitted that no water testing laboratory of PHE Kashmir Department is having the facility for conducting virological test of drinking water. He has sought further two weeks’ time to get the virological test of the drinking water done from outside the State and obtain the report.
Though, the report of the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian dated 09.03.2024 mentions the steps taken to curb the outbreak of jaundice and for purification of the water in the area but it in clear terms does not indicate the individuals affected by jaundice over the last three months. It only states that in the drive carried out by the Administration, 21 children tested positive and they were treated.
Hence, the NGT directed the Deputy Commissioner, Shopian to disclose the details of individuals/children who have tested positive for jaundice in the last three months in the next report.
The report in the form of an affidavit in terms of the observations made above be filed through e-filing within six weeks, the NGT directed listing the matter on 06.11.2024.