Will JKPCC, ULBs take CS’s direction seriously?

Recently Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo convened a meeting of Housing and Urban Development Department and J&K Pollution Control Committee to get the feedback on how municipal solid waste was being treated in Srinagar & Jammu cities and other towns of J&K. He took the stock of measures being taken up to build the capacity of Municipal Corporations including different Urban Local Bodies -ULBs of J&K in processing of solid and liquid waste as per the MSW Rules 2016. During the meeting Chief Secretary impressed upon the J&K Pollution Control Committee- PCC to be proactive in enforcement of environmental protection laws in J&K.

He advised them about their mandate and asked them to use their writ to act against the violators as per laws in force. This is indeed a matter of appreciation that CS has come in support of JKPCC and asked them to adhere to the environmental laws. I am sure both Chairman and Member Secretary will make sure to impose Environmental Compensation on the erring municipal institutions and even rural local bodies who are openly violating the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2016. It is important to note that MSW Rules 2016 are applicable to both urban (municipalities) and rural local bodies (panchayats).

The Principal Secretary, Finance, Chairman, Pollution Control Committee (PCC), Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation-SMC, Jammu Municipal Corporation-JMC Director ULBs Jammu/Kashmir and other concerned officers were also present in the meeting and CS directed upon the officers to come up with comprehensive and component wise waste management plans for both the Municipal Corporations and other municipalities of J&K.

CS on Legacy Waste 

It is unfortunate that our Municipal Institutions are yet to formulate scientific plans for treating the solid and liquid waste generated daily by the households. Even if the plans are formulated the same isn’t executed on the ground. Even after 10 years of Swachh Bharat Mission-SBM and 8 years of formulation of MSW Rules the municipal institutions have yet to treat waste as per MSW Rules. It is heartening to know that CS took the issue of legacy waste seriously. I had highlighted this many times and took up this matter with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well.

The NGT was informed by Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) that 11 lakh metric tons (MTs) of legacy waste was lying at Achan landfill site in Srinagar. Till date no steps have been taken by SMC and I believe after CS’s intervention the Commissioner Secretary HUDD J&K and Commissioner SMC will act. I also hope that JKPCC will also take action against the SMC as directed by National Green Tribunal -NGT in its recent order.

Waste dumped in Saffron fields

Few months back I visited saffron fields in Pampore on the western side of NH 44 (Srinagar -Jammu highway). I was shocked to see municipal solid waste (MSW) being dumped in the world famous saffron fields just 100 meters away from the main highway. This is a criminal act and neither JKPCC has taken any action nor is the district administration Pulwama stopping this criminal act. This action is threatening not only the environment but this impacts the livelihood of locals also. There are stray dogs, kites and rodents seen around this dump site presenting a grim picture. Ironically those municipal bodies who have already been provided money to set up landfill sites and were allocated land as well too have failed to adhere to MSW guidelines. The Chadoora Municipality is dumping waste unscientifically at a designated site even as they received more than Rs 2.60 Crore for setting up a waste management plant. Some machines were procured but they are not used at all. Same is the case with tourism development authorities like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Yusmarg. There are machines installed for waste management but the same are not operational. This needs to be probed as taxpayers money is getting wasted.

Conclusion 

I would request CS to hold an inquiry into procurement of waste management plants and seek feedback why they are not working? The J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must also work seriously as directed by CS so that the problems emerging from unscientific waste disposal are addressed.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow and Chairman J&K Climate Action Group