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| Dumping of Construction material, MSW; SPCB fails to protect Devika River | | | Early Times Report
Udhampur, Jan 30: J&K State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has miserably failed to protect river Devika near Udhampur as dumping of construction material and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) continues in this water-body from last several years. A private construction company and Municipal Council Udhampur are said to be involved in the heinous crime and authorities including local district administration and Municipal Council are mute spectators. Inspite of intervention of Commissioner Secretary Forests and Environment PCB is yet to initiate any stringent action against the private company and municipal authorities. The Chairman State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) had been asked to intervene into the alleged river land grab by a private construction company at Moudh Udhampur on Jammu Srinagar highway, where the company is said to have encroached a huge forest land that includes river bed of Devika river by dumping all the construction material. As reported already Commissioner Secretary Forests & Environment had personally communicated to Chairman State Pollution Control Board (SPBC) to send a team of officers to the site and give a factual report. Sources say that team is yet to file a report and violation of environmental and water conservation laws continue. The said illegal activity is also violating the Municipal Solid Waste Rules of 2016. Pertinently State Information Commission (SIC) has sought a complete report from Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur within a month on the alleged land grab near Devika river at village Moudh. SIC in addition to other issues has sought a detailed report from the DC office about the encroachment of 45 kanals of land by a private construction company for setting up a mega stone crushing unit in the area.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Udhampur who is also the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) in the office of Deputy Commissioner was summoned by the State Information Commission (SIC) in Jammu in December . The officer attended the hearing before SIC as information seeker had filed a complaint against him alleging that ADC / PIO had grossly violated the RTI law and didn't provide correct information vis a vis land grab on banks of Devika a tributary of Tawi river by a private construction company. In addition to private company MC Udhampur was also dumping all the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) near the highway just outside the town on NH 44. |
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