news details |
|
|
| Anti-pollution laws await implementation | | Pollution level on rise in JK | |
Saqib Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Even though various anti-pollution laws have been framed in the state over the years but there implementation seems a distant dream.
The Jammu and Kashmir has framed Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1974, Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1981, Environment Protection Act 1986, JK Non-Biodegradable Material Act 2007, JK Brick Kiln Act 2010. But official sources said there is rarely any implementation of these laws. Besides that disposal of waste has to be managed by Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, Hazardous and Other Waste Rules 2016, Construction and Demolition Waste Rules 2016 and e-Waste Management Rules 2016.
According to reports, awareness programmes were conducted in 28-schools wherein around 6500 students were sensitized about pollution issues. Besides 111 awareness camps have been organized.
Officials within State Pollution Control Board said suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) have witnessed a steep rise over the years due to increasing number of vehicles, crushers and factories.
A total of 355102 vehicles have been registered in the state during last three years, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. Of which 143146 have been registered in Kashmir and 211956 in the Jammu region.
There has been around 120 percent increase in traffic for the last seven years.Private cars and two wheelers account for 81 percent of vehicle population in JK.
Besides that 182220 vehicles had entered the J&K from other states for the last three years, according to official figures. However, a senior official of the Transport department said government was doing nothing to stop the influx of vehicles into J&K which have been phased out in other states. "Euro-one vehicles that have been rejected in other states are allowed to ply here," the official said.
On an average, approximately 8000 vehicles ply on Jammu-Srinagar highway and 1000 on Batote-Kishtwar on a daily basis (to and fro).
136 pollution checking centres are registered by the Motor Vehicles Department out of which 81 are working. However, it has been seen that pollution under control certificate is just a formality for vehicles due to lack of reliable pollution checking centres.
The non-commercial vehicles are supposed to be phased out after 15 years of service while as the commercial vehicles are condemned after 25 years by disallowing certificate of roadworthiness. "Despite creating immense pollution, non-commercial vehicles are not being condemned," a senior official of Transport department said. He said just 7,776 commercial vehicles have been phased out from 1973 to March, 2016.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned all 10-year-old diesel vehicles from plying on Delhi roads. However, officials said the government has no such plan to implement such decisions in the state.
An official said the government has failed to set up an environment policy in the state. "We have all types of pollutions in the Valley but nobody is listening to reduce the pollution level here. J&K is the worst possible states in pollution level," he said.
He said government has been hiding the facts that pollution level was not increasing at an alarming rate in the state. "Our water bodies are extremely polluted. Harmful gases are emitting from factories and huge dust is emitting from roads. For the last three years, over three lakh vehicles have been added on the roads and they would have added to a greater extend to pollute the environment."
An official report of J&K Environment and Ecology department says that the current glacial extents are out of balance with current climatic conditions indicating that glaciers will continue to shrink in the future even without further temperature increase.
It has been found that rate of recession of glaciers is varying which is being attributed to winter precipitation climate warming and anthropogenic elements. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
