Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 01 December 2015

• Expresses concern over non availability of medicines at District Hospital Kishtwar and dilapidated condition of Kishtwar-Batote road

KISHTWAR: Taking serious note of continuous soil erosion in many parts of the Kishtwar district despite plantation of whopping 16 lakh trees, Chairman of the committee on Environment of J&K Legislative Assembly, Mr. G. M Saroori has constituted a panel headed by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to dig out the truth. The J&K Legislative Assembly (JKLA) empowered Committee headed by, MLA, Inderwal, G. M Saroori and Legislators Dr. Krishan Lal, Mumtaz Khan, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Naresh Gupta, Shyam Lal Bhagat and Firdous Ahmed Tak took the meeting with district administration at new DC complex Kishtwar.

During its visit to different parts of Kishtwar and inspection of various power projects has come across several complaints vis-à-vis continuous soil erosion in the areas in the vicinity of Dul Hasti project reservoir. The Committee has also received complaints regarding soil erosion in those areas which were provided road connectivity under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

While taking meeting of district officers at Kishtwar, the Committee on Environment came to know that Social Forestry Department planted around 16 lakh trees to stabilize soil in the vicinity of Dul Hasti power project and in numerous other areas where rural roads were constructed under Union Government’s flagship scheme of PMGSY, Committee wondered as to how soil erosion can continue despite plantation of such a large number of trees.

Saroori, who is MLA from Inderwal constituency said that there are laid down guidelines for compulsory afforestation to compensate the loss of the trees during execution of any major project and funds were earmarked for this exercise in the areas in the vicinity of Dul Hasti project. Even sufficient funds were kept at the disposal of the Social Forestry Department to compensate the loss of trees during construction of rural roads in the Kishtwar district. But we have not seen such a large number of trees having been planted by the Social Forestry Department. There are apprehensions about mis-utilization of funds meant for compulsory afforestation as such there is a need to look into this aspect”, adding “since numerous power projects are coming up in the district there is a dire need to go in for compulsory afforestation at large scale to check adverse impact of the developmental activities on the environment”.

Noting that ground situation was not in consonance with the plantation figures provided by the officers, the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori constituted a committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar to dig out the truth and submit report within next 15 days, adding the Chairman of the Committee has also decided to seek information from the Chief Conservator of Forests to ascertain the results yielded by compulsory afforestation in Kishtwar district and the funds actually utilized for the purpose.

The Committee while talking tough against the NHPC for their failure in preserving and conserving the environment in Chenab valley directed the state Pollution Control Board (PCB) not to issue any No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in favour of NHPC and JKPCC till both the companies fulfill their commitment towards safe guarding the environment.

While deliberating over the issue, Chairman of the committee Ghulam Mohammad Saroori said that NHPC fails to fulfill its commitment under corporate sector added that even after several years, NHPC fails to construct safety tanks within its premises as a result of which the dirty water and other hazardous waste material flooded on the streets of Kishtwar town threatening the health of masses. He said that NHPC also fails to carry out any major welfare initiative which gives boost to the environment, added that company is eying to tap waste power potential on river Chenab, but at the same time fails to spend a single penny on the preservation of environment.

The committee further directed DC Kishtwar to constitute the committee of Geological experts to verify the claims made by MLC Firdous Tak regarding sinking of adjoining villages around Dool Dam and directed the NHPC to take all measures to safe guard the interest of the people living in villages around power projects.

Saroori also directed NHPC officials and Municipal Committee Kishtwar to clear its position with regard to construction of solid waste management plant within two weeks and warned of action in case of failure. The Chairman also showed its concern over non availability of medicines at District Hospital Kishtwar, beside also shows concern over the dilapidated condition of Kishtwar-Batote National Highway that sinks at many places due to impact of Baglihar power project.

Additional Secretary, Health, Mohd. Ashraf Hakak, Additional Secretary, JKLA, Naseema Jan, DC Kishtwar Ghulam Nabi Balwan, Deputy Director, Health, Dr. Gurjeet Singh, Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, ADC Kishtwar Kishori Lal Sharma, ACD Kishtwar Akhtar Hussain Qazi, CPO Kishtwar Yasir Balwan, CMO Kishtwar Dr. Shyam Prasad Gupta, Chief Conservator of Forests Kishtwar, ASP Abdul Qayoom, GM NHPC Arvind Butt, Divisional Pollution Control Officer Kishtwar, and senior officers accompanied the committee headed by Saroori during the inspection.