Representational Picture
The Principal Bench of the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has taken a big step by issuing a discover to the JK admin, signaling issues over obvious violations of environmental norms within the development of the Handwara-Bangus street.
Rasikh Rasool Bhat, the Authentic Applicant and a Rights’ Activist cum lawyer, shared insights into the Tribunal’s response to his plea, emphasizing the absence of ‘Environmental Clearance’ (EC) on the devoted portal PARIVESH (Professional-active Responsive Facilitation By Interactive & Virtuous Environmental Hub).
Moreover, he raised alarms about large-scale mineral (gravel) extraction happening within the Bakiaker-Zachaldara stream, a transparent breach of environmental norms.
The NGT, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and assisted by knowledgeable members D.A Senthil Cel & Dr. Afroz Ahmad, acknowledged the gravity of the state of affairs
In line with Bhat, the NGT noticed that there are substantial points associated to the compliance of environmental norms.
The continued actions, together with gravel extraction and development work, have reportedly brought on, or are prone to trigger, harm to varied water our bodies and private and non-private properties within the space.
The core difficulty revolves across the execution of the Handwara-Bangus street mission, a state freeway, within the Rajwar Forest Space of Kupwara District.
The NGT order highlighted allegations that greater than 25,000 lush inexperienced forest bushes have been lower or uprooted, in depth blasting of mountains occurred, and over 14 hectares of forest land have been being utilized for street development. These actions, as per NGT, have been undertaken with out acquiring the obligatory Environmental Clearance.
Bhat, in his Authentic Utility (OA) to the NGT, questioned the rationale behind developing a brand new street through the Rajwar Forest when an present route by Rajwar Locality to Bangus Valley was already out there. He raised issues concerning the total environmental affect within the Rajwar Space and the purported wastage of Indian taxpayers’ cash below the Central Street Fund (CRF).
The NGT order particularly addressed Bhat’s queries relating to the authorities permitting and extracting minerals at Dhobi Ghat Zachaldara inside a 400-meter radius of two very important bridges, using heavy excavators at depths exceeding 3 meters.
Because of the NGT’s intervention, notices have been issued to the respondents, and the NGT has directed Bhat to serve the respondents and file an affidavit of service a minimum of one week earlier than the following scheduled listening to on April 25, 2024. The case underscores the importance of adhering to environmental norms and raises pertinent questions concerning the necessity and environmental implications of infrastructure tasks within the area.
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