J&K govt draws NGT's ire on scattered trash in Srinagar

Lambasting the Jammu and Kashmir government for municipal waste scattered across Srinagar, the National Green Tribunal today warned it would order dumping of all trash in the Secretariat complex if its orders were not implemented within a week.
Asserting that it would hold top officers including the Chief Secretary personally responsible for ensuring compliance of its orders passed a year ago, the green panel took the state administration to task over delay in setting up of a waste-to-energy plant in Srinagar despite its order, saying all this was ruining the area known for its beauty.
"It is one of the most beautiful cities," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said and asked "where are you using the money allotted to you? You are just putting the common man in trouble.

"At least have a provision for municipal solid waste (MSW) collection and segregation or else we will direct Srinagar Municipal Corporation to dump all the waste in the Secretariat."
The Tribunal granted one week to the state government to comply with its order and ensure there is no scattering of MSW in the city.
It warned that in the event of default, the Chief Secretary, other concerned secretaries and commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) would be personally held responsible.

"Why don't you have dustbins and waste collection provisions? Does that require cabinet approval? We are shocked to see that there is no dustbin in the entire Srinagar area. There are stray dogs and municipal waste lying everywhere. Why don't you set up MSW plant? You cannot block everything and let people suffer and die.

"We understand the financial aspects but you have to find some solution. This project will generate energy in lieu of waste and still you are doing nothing," it said.
The green panel expressed displeasure over government's attitude in the matter and noted that tenders were awarded by the state as per its own terms but the entire project remained stalled for a considerable period on the pretext that the rate of power purchase demanded by the bidder was higher.
Continuing its tirade against the J&K government, the
green panel said "You are just interested in making your files thick. Tourism is the soul of Jammu & Kashmir and you are doing this to your state. Why should common people be always the sufferer. There has to be some sense of working. It is a matter of state's health. We are sick and tired of this case."

The Tribunal noted that on an average 500 metric tons of waste was produced a day in Srinagar and it was a statutory obligation on government to ensure that MSW waste is dealt in a manner that it does not cause health hazard.
"Not that the Tribunal is powerless to execute is orders but it was due to the assurance given by state government that time was granted on one pretext or the other...
"According to the project proponent, the rate of power has already been fixed by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission as Rs 7.90 per unit. It was for the state to accept or reject the tender if the rate was not acceptable. The state government had told the Tribunal that approval for purchase of the power was given. But today, we are being informed to the contrary that the matter is still pending and no agreement has been entered into," the bench said.

The green panel said it would have attached the treasury of the state and issue show cause notice to senior-most officers for sending them to civil imprisonment for violating the orders of the Tribunal.
"However, at this stage the counsel for the state government states that they be given final opportunity and they would ensure complete compliance of the order of the Tribunal and also see that there is no scattering of MSW in the city. Though reluctantly, but in the interest of justice, we grant one week to the state," the bench said.
On January 13 last year, NGT had accorded sanction to establishment of waste to energy plant at Achan in Srinagar while directing SMC to pay Rs 14 lakh for failure to take steps in collection and disposal of the MSW in Srinagar and said "project shall be completed in a time bound manner and in any case within a period of one year."

It had also constituted a committee comprising Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, nominee from MoEF, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Commissioner of SMC and others to ensure proper construction, establishment and operationalisation of the plant.