A meeting of the Committee on Environment of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held here today under the Chairmanship of Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami to review policies to mitigate pollution related issues.
Legislators Usman Abdul Majid, Syed Mohammad Baqir Rizvi, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, Bashir Ahmed Dar, Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh, Abdul Rahim Rather and Anjum Fazili were present in the meeting.
The Committee expressed concern over the use of polythene bags above thickness of 50 microns and urged government to review the matter in this regard. The Committee observed that the order of High Court should be implemented in letter and spirit.
Threadbare discussions were held on the present status of solid waste management and sanitation services being provided to the people besides status of garbage dumping sites.
Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Riyaz Ahmed Wani, briefed the Committee about Solid Waste Management (SWM) component of the Swach Bharat Mission. The department has adopted a cluster approach and 19 clusters have been formed for the scientific disposal of solid waste covering all the towns and two capital cities of the State.
He further informed that land for the purpose has been identified for all the clusters except Banihal and Kishtwar, where the matter has been taken up with district administration.
Additional deputy commissioners from districts of Kashmir Division briefed the Committee about the steps taken by the administration in the improvement of solid waste management as well as the drainage system in the region.
The Committee stressed upon the concerned authorities to expedite the land acquisition for garbage dumping sites and directed them to clear all rivers, streams and nullahs.
Among others, chairman Pollution Control Board, commissioner SMC, additional secretary Legislative Assembly besides other senior officers of concerned departments and Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting.
