Response by Raja Muzaffar Bhat to the Joint Committee report on dumping of waste in and around Hokersar and Wullar lake, Jammu & Kashmir, 26/08/2020
Response on behalf of Raja Muzaffar Bhat in response to the factual and action taken report of December 8, 2019 and progress report of August 18, 2020 filed by the Joint Committee constituted by the Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir under the Chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
The matter related to dumping of waste in and around Hokersar and Wullar wetland.
The petitioner visited Hokersar on March 5, 2020 and saw that the J&K Wildlife Conservation Department has not put in place any permanent mechanism to avoid dumping of solid waste in the wetland. Further, the local villagers of Hajibagh, Soibugh and other areas were bringing waste in private vehicles, load carriers and lorries from other residential areas and dumping the same on the wetland banks.
The applicant, Raja Muzaffar Bhat found bio-medical and other hazardous waste dumped on the banks of Hokersar wetland. Further, fruit and vegetable waste was also brought from Parimpora Fruit Mandi Srinagar to Hokersar wetland for dumping purposes. With respect to demolition of illegal structures in Hokersar - some more illegal structures have come up in the last 7 to 8 months in Hokersar.
In violation of the MSW Rules 2016 and Wetland Conservation and Management Rules 2017, a garbage dump site has been created by Municipal Committee Hajin in district Bandipora at Gandbal area which is part and parcel of Wullar lake. From eastern side Municipal Committee Bandipora, from western side Municipal Council Sopore and from the southern shore Municipal Committee Hajin were destroying the Wullar lake by dumping municipal solid waste into it, the report added.