DOODH GANGA MINING, POLLUTION CASE: Environmental compensation again to be imposed: PCC tells NGT

Srinagar, Sep 27: The J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that action for imposition of Environmental Compensation on Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council Chadoora and Municipal Council Budgam would be taken up in six weeks as ground reports have found that large scale pollution continued to impact Doodh Ganga stream in Chadoora and Srinagar areas along with Mamath Kul in Budgam.

NGT has also sought clear details from Commissioner Secretary Environment & Forest Department J&K regarding setting up of Sewerage Treatment Plants -STPs in Doodh Ganga to combat pollution with proper timeline.

The Government counsel sought time to respond to the allegations made regarding landsliding and damage caused to three irrigation channels near Chadoora Budgam during recent floods. The petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat told the tribunal that due to illegal mining with heavy machines in last 3 to 4 years have weakened the embankments of Doodh Ganga and that caused massive soil erosion , landslides and breach of three irrigation channels namely Kralpur Kul, Doyan Kul and Masar Kul which supply irrigation waters to more than 5000 kanals of agriculture land.

This case was listed before the Principal Bench of Justice Praksah Srivastava Chairman of NGT and Dr Senthil Veil (Expert Member) on Thursday in New Delhi. The NGT bench was not satisfied with the response submitted by the Government through Commissioner Secretary Environment and Forest regarding construction of STPs from Barzulla to Chadoora for waste water treatment on banks of Doodh Ganga.

Noted Environmental lawyer Rahul Chowdhary appeared on behalf of the petitioner Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat and apprised the tribunal that no steps have been taken by Government Doodh Ganga restoration. The tribunal further ordered that Commissioner / Secretary, Environment J&K Government must disclose the outer time-limit for completing the work of construction of STPs and its commissioning and 100 percent household connectivity. “Hence, we direct the Secretary, Environment to file a fresh affidavit in terms of the above observations. Report of the joint committee dated 24.09.2025 clearly mentions the non-compliance of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and violations by concerned municipal councils ie MC Chadoora, MC Budgam and SMC. Member Secretary, J&K PCC has submitted that action for imposition of environmental compensation will be taken against these municipal councils and action taken report will be filed within six weeks.” The government counsel was give six weeks time to file counter response regarding illegal mining and landslides having damaged Doodh Ganga embankments and breach of three irrigation canals during recent floods.