SRINAGAR: The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to authorities, including the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, regarding the alleged deterioration of wetlands and water bodies.
The tribunal initiated the action based on a news report highlighting the worsening conditions in the Union Territory due to various factors, including natural and man-made causes such as rising temperatures, sediment deposition, encroachment, and waste discharge.
Specifically, the report highlighted pollution in water bodies like Dal, Wular, Anchar, and Manasbal lakes, as well as wetlands such as Haigam Rakh, Hokersar, and Shalbug.
The Tribunal, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, emphasised the need for effective management and swift measures to ensure sustainability.
It also raised concerns about compliance with environmental norms and the implementation of relevant laws.
In response, the tribunal impeached several authorities, including member secretaries of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee, the Central Pollution Control Board, and the secretary of the Union Territory’s Forest, Ecology, and Environment department.
The tribunal ordered these parties to submit their responses at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for May 22.
The tribunal also noted that while the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee had submitted a report on the monitoring of nine wetlands, it lacked essential data for proper assessment, particularly regarding physicochemical and biological parameters.
