Seeks comprehensive action plan to prevent discharge of untreated sewage
By: Sameer Showkin
Srinagar: In continuation of its efforts to restore the pristine glory of water bodies, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stressed upon the Jammu and Kashmir government to declare the vital Doodhganga Nallah and its banks as No “Litter Zone.”
Keeping in view the fragile environment around the Nallah, the NGT has constituted a committee, comprising Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Director Urban Local Bodies and Regional Director, Pollution Control Committee Kashmir.
As part of its task, the committee has been undertaking visits to assess the water quality, quantity of sewage being discharged, and solid waste being dumped around the water bodies.
In its recent visit to assess the condition of Doodganga river and the measures being taken for its cleanliness besides identification of the factors contributing to pollution of this river as per the directions of National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The committee members, as per the sources, has stressed upon the concerned field functionaries to sensitise people living near the banks of Doodganga about the fragility of the environment and ill effects of polluting it, besides declaring the banks of the Nallah Dhoodganga and the adjoining areas as ‘No Litter Zone’.
“The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been asked to start a massive cleanliness drive in and along the Nallah Doodganga within District Srinagar and ensure effective door to door collection of waste along the Water Body and also take all required measures to prevent dumping of solid waste in it. The Municipal Committee Chadoora has been asked to clear legacy waste and prevent any further dumping of waste on the Banks of water body,” sources disclosed.
The NGT backed Committee has also sought a comprehensive action plan including establishment of STPs of adequate capacity to prevent direct discharge of untreated Sewage into Doodhganga river.
Doodh Ganga also called ‘Chatch Kull’ originates from the glaciers of Pir Panjaal around mount ‘Shankar Bul Bul’, located at an altitude 4500 metres.
