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| SWM: DCs, PCB don't follow guidelines, NGT direction | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, July 14: As municipal solid waste management is becoming a challenging task for civic authorities across state, the Deputy Commissioners who are supposed to hold quarterly meetings on municipal waste management and monthly meetings as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) direction have failed to do so which is a violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 (SWM Rules). The Pollution Control Board (PCB) as well has failed to implement SWM Rules, which has complicated the issue of solid waste management in the state.
As per rule 12 of SWM Rules 2016, Deputy Commissioners were supposed to identify landfill sites for treatment of municipal solid waste, but sources have told Early Times that most of the landfill sites are yet to be identified inspite of lapse of 3 years since the rules became operational across country. The DCs are also supposed hold quarterly meetings as per rule 12 of SWM Rules 2016 and monthly meetings as per NGT direction but in most of the cases the district administration has even failed to adhere to these directions.
As reported already the PCB had also miserably failed to play its role vis a vis implementation of SWM Rules 2016. As per rule number 16 of Solid Waste Rules of 2016 state pollution control boards have to work closely with civic bodies like Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils/Committees across all the states of India. The SWM Rules 2016 are operational in Jammu & Kashmir from last more than 3 years but till PCB has hardly been found actively doing this job within the municipal limits of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) or any other municipal authority under Directorate of Urban Local Bodies.
As per the SWM Rules 2016, PCB has to monitor environmental standards and adherence to conditions as specified under the Schedule I and Schedule II for waste processing and disposal sites and to examine the proposal for authorization and make such inquiries as deemed fit, after the receipt of the application for the same in Form I from the Municipal body or any other agency authorized by the municipal body.
The PCB while examining the proposal for authorization, the requirement of consents under respective enactments and views of other agencies like the State Urban Development Department, the Town Planning Department, District Planning Committee or Metropolitan Area Planning Committee, as may be applicable. Airport or Airbase Authority, the Ground Water Board, Railways, power distribution companies, highway department and other relevant agencies shall be taken into consideration and they shall be given four weeks time to give their views, if any.
The PCB is supposed to issue authorization within a period of 60 days in Form II to the municipal authority or an operator of a facility or any other agency authorized by municipal body stipulating compliance criteria and environmental standards as specified in Schedules I and II including other conditions, as may be necessary.
As per SWM Rules 2016, the PCB shall, after giving reasonable opportunity of being heard to the applicant and for reasons thereof to be recorded in writing, refuse to grant or renew an authorization. In addition to it PCB has several other roles as well. |
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