The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a factual and an action taken report from the Member Secretary, State Wetland Authority, Collector, Baramulla and the state pollution control board against the dumping of municipal solid waste in the Wullar Lake. The NGT has directed the SPCB to be the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
The bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice SP Wangdi (Judicial Member), Dr Satyawan Singh Garbyal and Dr Nagin Nanda was hearing an application filed by Raja Muzaffar Bhat, chairman of the Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.
Bhat has alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Sopore and the district administration of Baramulla were dumping municipal solid waste in the Wullar Lake, around Ningli Tarzoo in Baramulla district in J&K.
Moreover, the lake in question is a wetland and a Ramsar site and is thus an eco-sensitive area. Dumping of waste is not only in violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, but also the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, submitted Bhat.
The Tribunal has listed the matter for next hearing on October 15.
Read the order;
NGT-Order-India Legal Bureau