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| SBM, MSW rules mutilated by MC Bandipora | | Wullar Lake becomes garbage dumping site | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 31: At a time when Government is claiming to be implementing Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Municipal Solid Waste Rules in letter and spirit, the authorities at the helm of affairs to implement them are themselves involved in mutilating these guidelines. As per reliable information Municipal Committee Bandipora is using Wullar lake for dumping all the municipal solid waste that is collected from the town on daily basis.
Inspite of the fact that the Wullar Lake has been recognised as a Ramsar site under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, 1971, the wetland has been subjected to pollution as a result of dumping of municipal solid waste as well as illegal encroachments by way of construction of roads and other infrastructure. The lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia and is fed by the Jhelum River.
Sources have told Early Times that municipal solid waste collected by MC Bandipora is being directly dumped on the periphery of the Wular Lake, near Nussu village.
"This is not only a matter of grave concern with regard to the ecology of the wetland, but also poses several health hazards for the local inhabitants. Further, in light of the fact that the wetland has been recorded as a Nambal in the revenue records of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, such dumping of municipal solid waste is in direct violation of several laid norms " said Mir Mushtaq a local Social Activist from Bandipora.
As already reported by Early Times Municipal Committee (MC) Bandipora received a grant of around 82 lakhs some years back from Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) for strengthening and developing the infrastructure for scientific disposal of municipal solid waste so as to prevent any sort of pollution within and along the banks of Wular Lake. Inspite of getting get a huge grant the Municipal Committee (MC) Bandipora continues to dump all the garbage in the local water bodies and the irony is that this dumping mostly takes place in famous Wullar lake.
Wullar Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) Chief Executive Director (CED) had shot a letter to Director Local Bodies Kashmir few years back and showed his serious concern about the activities of MC Bandipora.
"During 2013-14 and 2014-15 the authority has provided a financial assistance of 39 Lakhs and 42.90 Lakhs respectively to MC Bandipora through DC Bandipora for strengthening and developing the required infrastructure for scientific disposal of municipal solid waste (M&H Rules 2000) so as to prevent any sort of pollution within and along the banks of Wullar Lake under 13th FCA. The concern civic body has not taken necessary measures which are mandatory under environment protection act and rules framed therein as cited above to ensure scientific disposal of municipal solid waste around the banks of Wular Lake."
Local residents have appealed Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and Director Urban Local Bodies to intervene. |
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