Srinagar, Aug 19: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to the Jammu & Kashmir government over alleged unscientific waste dumping at Ohangam in Beerwah by the Rural Development Department (RDD), Block Rathsun, Budgam.
The Principal Bench of the NGT, headed by Justice Prakash Srivastava, Chairperson, also directed the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to conduct a spot inspection and submit factual details to the tribunal.
The JKPCC team had already visited the site in June this year after locals protested against alleged illegal dumping of waste and the setting up of a waste processing site in the area.
The petitioner, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, raised a grievance over the alleged illegal and unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste in village Ohangam, Block Rathsun, Budgam.
In his original application (OA), the petitioner alleged that the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Budgam, and Block Development Officer, Rural Development Block, Rathsun, were involved in dumping waste at Ohangam for the last few years against the wishes of local residents.
He alleged that waste was being dumped near the main road, surrounded by three water canals, in violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016/2026.
The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Saurabh Sharma, submitted geotagged photographs and a JKPCC inspection report in support of the allegations. The report stated that waste was being dumped along the Ohangam-Rathsun-Soibugh road, a major district road connecting nearby villages.
The report said the site was about 125 metres from an educational institution and around 120 metres from the nearest house. It was surrounded by orchards, while stray dogs were seen roaming around the dumping site.
It also noted foul smell from the dumped waste, causing inconvenience to road users and public nuisance.
The JKPCC report said the RDD, Budgam, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat and BDO Rathsun were responsible for ensuring segregation, processing and scientific disposal of waste under the applicable rules.
The NGT order said the application raised “substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms” and directed notices to the respondents.
The tribunal directed JKPCC to ascertain the status of the alleged illegal dumping and, if the allegations were found correct, take appropriate punitive and remedial measures. It also directed the committee to submit an action-taken report at least a week before the next hearing.
“It is ironic that tons of untreated waste has been dumped at Ohangam in the last two years by RDD Rathsun block and the site selection was not done by local Halqa Majlis/Gram Sabha,” Dr Raja Muzaffar said.
He alleged that the department was now planning to set up a plastic waste processing plant at the site, which he termed illegal.
“The site cannot be set up without the consent of Halqa Majlis (Gram Sabha) and it violates the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 itself and MSW Rules 2026. Let the government allocate land for this unit in an industrial estate,” he said.
The case is listed for the next hearing on October 29.
