Srinagar, Aug 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has proposed levying environmental compensation of Rs 33.24 lakh on the Municipal Committee Awantipora for allegedly violating the Solid Waste Management Rules by improperly and scientifically disposing of solid waste near Dangerpora Padgampora along NH-44 in Pulwama district.
The notice, issued to the Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Awantipora, follows proceedings before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a case concerning alleged illegal and unscientific dumping of solid, plastic and biomedical waste in the area.
According to the JKPCC, the NGT had directed a fresh inspection to ascertain the quantity of waste dumped at the site, the period for which it had remained there and the action taken to address the issue. The Pollution Control Committee subsequently issued directions to the Municipal Committee Awantipora and examined its response.
The matter was later referred to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the JKPCC for expert assessment. The TAC recommended environmental compensation of Rs 33.24 lakh for the disposal of four tonnes per day of unsegregated solid waste over a period of 197 days.
The notice states that the method adopted for handling and disposal of the waste posed a “grave threat” to the environment and amounted to non-compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. It said the proposed compensation has been calculated under the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle in accordance with guidelines approved by the NGT.
The JKPCC has given the Executive Officer 15 days from the issuance of the notice to explain why the proposed compensation should not be levied. The authority has also been asked to explain why prosecution should not be initiated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules.
The notice warns that if no tenable response is received within the stipulated period, the order for levying environmental compensation would be issued and prosecution proceedings initiated in accordance with law.
The JKPCC’s assessment records that although the estimated solid waste generation for the municipal committee was 6.56 tonnes per day, the actual quantity reported by the Executive Officer in the annual Form-IV report was four tonnes per day. The TAC therefore used four tonnes per day for calculating the compensation.
Using the prescribed formula, the committee calculated the compensation at Rs 33.24 lakh, comprising Rs 9.6 lakh, Rs 15.76 lakh and Rs 7.88 lakh under the applicable components of the environmental compensation formula.
