Ex-SMC Commissioner Athar Amir among 4 officials faces accountability
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has taken decisive legal action against four senior officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for their alleged failure to curb pollution in River Doodhganga.
In a compliance report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the JKPCC detailed widespread violations of environmental laws, including the continued discharge of untreated sewage and improper solid waste disposal.
The report, which follows the tribunal’s directives issued in October 2024, details efforts to curb untreated sewage discharge and mismanagement of solid waste, which continue to pose significant environmental threats.
In its report, the JKPCC outlines a series of actions undertaken to address the pollution crisis. It sought updates from the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on the status of sewage treatment plants (STPs).
The findings indicate that while the UEED has issued a tender for constructing STPs, the process has faced significant delays. These plants are crucial in preventing untreated wastewater from entering the river, particularly from seven wards under the Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction.
A major revelation in the report is the transfer of responsibility for sewage treatment from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to the UEED. Officials from the SMC clarified that their expertise lies in stormwater management rather than sewage treatment, necessitating the handover of the project to the UEED. However, the delays in execution have allowed untreated sewage to continue flowing into the river, exacerbating pollution levels.
The report also highlights violations of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Despite previous warnings and directives, untreated sewage from multiple dewatering stations continues to enter the Doodhganga. Additionally, the dumping of solid waste on the riverbanks remains an ongoing issue, further deteriorating water quality and threatening the local ecosystem.
In response to these failures, the JKPCC has taken legal action against several officials who were responsible for implementing pollution control measures. Complaints have been filed under Section 15(b) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, against key figures. Former SMC Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan is facing action for failing to establish necessary sewage treatment infrastructure, while former UEED Chief Engineer Iftikar Ahmad Kakroo is being held accountable for not ensuring proper waste treatment mechanisms. Similarly, former Executive Officers of Budgam and Chadoora Municipal Committees, Mohammad Iqbal Bhat and Syed Nayeem Rizvi are accused of negligence in solid waste management and improper sewage disposal.
The compliance report states that the UEED has initiated a tender for the construction of sewage treatment plants, but delays persist due to funding and execution challenges. It further notes that four senior municipal officials have been named in legal complaints for their failure to implement pollution control measures.
The report emphasizes that these officials were in key positions when untreated sewage continued to be discharged into the Doodhganga. Additionally, the report highlights that while some measures have been proposed, including phased construction of treatment facilities, the pollution levels remain critical. The tribunal has been urged to monitor the implementation process closely to ensure accountability and timely action.
