news details |
|
|
| Wildlife, PCB don't respond to NGT’s notice | | Now case listed in Sept | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 23: At a time when Good Samaritans are coming forward to help government in ensuring removal of encroachments from state wetlands, the authorities at the helm of affairs instead of providing them a helping hand are so callous in their attitude that a two page report was not send to National Green Tribunal (NGT) via email in time from last more than three months, with the result the case which was listed on July 22 has now been put for discussion in September.
The state government claims ensuring good governance and prompt response to public delivery mechanism. The government organisations like JK Wildlife Protection Department and State Pollution Control Board (PCB) have miserable failed to file a report to the NGT in time.
The case titled Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat v/s State of J&K and others regarding encroachment of three wetlands in Kashmir was listed before the NGT on July 22. The petition was filed before NGT early this year and was listed in April before the Principal bench headed by Chairman NGT Justice A K Goel.
The tribunal had issued notice to J&K government asking them to file their response within two months. As NGT did not receive the response in time the case hearing was delayed by two months. Now the case is listed on September 4.
The petition asking for restoration and protection of Hokersar, Wullar and Pampore wetlands was filed before the NGT in March this year. The NGT had directed the PCB, J&K Wildlife Protection Department and district administration of Bandipora, Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama for submitting a detailed report within two months from the pronouncement of order. But these authorities failed to submit the report in time and that delayed the case.
The petition was listed before the three member principal bench of NGT headed by Justice A K Goel on April 10, 2019. The petitioner through his counsel Rahul Chowdhary argued that Municipal Committee Bandipora was dumping all the municipal solid waste in the Wullar lake by creating a garbage dump site at Zalwan Nussu village. In addition to it issue related to two other wetlands Hokersar and Pampore (Krechu Chanhara) was also raised. NGT had sought a detailed report from PCB, Wildlife Protection Department and DC's of Srinagar, Pulwama, Bandipora ad Budgam within two months.
"The officers get hefty salaries to do the job, and we do this by paying from our pocket and travelling all along to Delhi. I gave my time and energy but it is so unfortunate that officials of Wildlife, PCB and even DCs could not send a two page reply via email to NGT. This is height of callousness and I will agitate this before NGT through a written submission," said petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
