SRINAGAR: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on a tipper driver for dumping garbage on the banks of the Doodh Ganga flood channel, Pantha Chowk and Batamaloo.
The statement said that for the last few months, it was observed that heavy loads of garbage were illegally unloaded and dumped by some unscrupulous elements on the banks of the Doodh Ganga flood channel, Pantha Chowk-Batamaloo Bye Pass Road, especially in the Nowgam stretch besides interior city areas such as Tengpora, Rawalpora, Sanat Nagar, Barzulla Bridge and Mehjoor Nagar.
“This illegal dumping of huge waste has badly deteriorated the environment of the city,” said Commissioner SMC Athar Amir Khan.
“The Corporation was closely keeping an eye and working to nab such miscreants who damage the environment and push the city to extreme unsanitary conditions,” he added.
“Whereas, on January 1, 2022, at around 10.42 pm in one of the operations, the tipper bearing no JK02AC 3649 was caught red-handed while unloading a tipper full of loads of garbage at Rawalpora near Govt. School. However, the tipper driver forcibly with the help of some unknown persons managed to flee from the spot,” the statement added.
The corporation while acting on a tip-off, on March 18, 2022, at around 11 pm, caught the tipper again while unloading a bulk of garbage at Barzulla near the bridge. The tipper was seized and taken into custody by the Corporation.
“It was found that the tipper was working with one M/S. Buhroo Trading Corporation, which is under service contract to Station HQ, Old Airfield, Rangreth and the waste collected from the Station HQ is being dumped within the territorial jurisdiction of the Corporation in a crude manner and in a brazen violation of environmental laws and rules,” the statement said.
“Whereas, vide order dated 8/3/2022 in an OA No. 241/2021 titled Raja Muzaffar Bhat v/s Union of India & Others, the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, authorized UT authorities to impose costs on polluters. The illegal dumping of waste is also a grave offence under SWM Rules, 2016 and J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000,” it said.
“Whereas vide a representation submitted by the defaulter and received under receipt No. 2871 dated 30/3/2022, confessing to the offence and apologised for the act now, therefore, consequent upon the order dated 8/3/2022 in an OA No. 241/2021 issued by Hon’ble Tribunal and the authority of imposing costs on the polluters given to the State/UT thereunder, and has confessed to the offence, a fine to the tune of Rs. 1.00 lakh (Rupees one lakh only) has been imposed on the defaulter for the above said illegal acts, to be deposited in the Municipal Chest within a period of 10 days,” the statement said.
“The Solid Waste Management Officer, SMC has been asked to release the vehicle in question on the production of the GR of the said amount by the above owner/driver of the tipper,” it added.
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