Pollution In Doodh Ganga & Mamath Kull Of Jammu & Kashmir; NGT Constitutes Five Member Committee To Ascertain Water Quality

Recently, the Principal Bench Of the National Green Tribunal at New Delhi has taken note of the pollution crisis in Doodh Ganga and Mamath Kull, both tributaries of River Jhelum in Jammu & Kashmir. The bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, also laid down the course of action to be undertaken by the Joint Committee composed of the Central Pollution Control Board, J & K Pollution Control Committee, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Budgam and the Director, Urban Local Bodies, J&K: "…The Committee may look into the water quality in terms of Fecal coliform, quantity of sewage being discharged, solid waste being dumped on the banks and the action plan prepared by the River Rejuvenation Committee for J & K constituted as per orders of the Tribunal in OA 673/18. Further action be planned and executed accordingly…" The application filed by Raja Muzaffar Bhat seeking the intervention of the tribunal alleged that 'the pesticides from Apple Orchards, discharge of untreated sewage and dumping of municipal solid wastes from the area falling under Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committee of Budgam' have deteriorated both waterbodies originating from the Pir Panjal Mountains. In addition, the applicant also filed photographs and copies of letters by State Pollution Control Board to Srinagar Municipal Corporation mentioning dewatering pumping stations with the potential to pollute water.