J&K High Court on Wednesday held that the Court visit was necessary with regard to garbage dumping along the banks of Wular Lake, Asia’s largest water body, in north Kashmir.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation seeking removal of the garbage from Wular banks, a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjay Dhar observed, “Given the nature of the controversy and the contentions of the counsel for petitioners a Court visit may be necessary.”
The Court asked Additional Advocate General MA Chashoo to examine the possibility of the visit keeping in view the current situation in consultation with Registrar General of the High Court.
Meanwhile, the Court issued fresh notice to Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change returnable on August 13.
After Chashoo on behalf of J&K government sought more time to file the status report, the Court asked him to do so by August 13.
Central Auqaf Committee Tarzoo-Dharnambal, an amalgam of eight Auqaf Committees of the area, through advocate Shafqat Nazir has filed the PIL.
The plea prays for a direction to the Municipal Council Sopore to stop dumping of municipal solid waste on the Ramsar wetland site situated at Dharnambal-Ningli Tarzoo in Sopore which falls within the periphery of the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) and also within the limits of Hygam-Ningli-Tarzoo Tourism Development Authority.
It also seeks a direction to Municipal Council to immediately remove the garbage “illegally dumped” on the spot.