Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 21: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Sanjeet Kumar seeking pollution free environment, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Hasnain Massodi and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today directed the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to file comprehensive report by next date of hearing regarding the identification of land in all the districts for setting up of solid waste management facility.
After hearing Advocates SK Anand and Jatinder Choudhary appearing for the PIL, the DB observed, “petition voices concern about non-availability of solid waste management facility in different districts of the Jammu province. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu was on 02.06.2014 directed to file a status report indicating availability of such facilities in each and every district of Jammu Division and to identify land, if any, earmarked for solid waste management facility”.
“Compliance report stands filed. However, counsel for the petitioner insists that the compliance report does not cover all the districts of the State. It is stated that status report is restricted to Reasi, Ramban, Rajouri, Samba and Jammu and other seven districts have been left out”, the DB said.
Senior Advocate DC Raina appearing for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board stated that a request from the Board made to district administration Udhampur to identify solid waste management facility has gone unheeded. He further stated that piecemeal status report would not lead us anywhere.
After going through the status report, DB observed, “Divisional Commissioner, Jammu appears to have not understood and appreciated the orders in right perspective”. Accordingly, DB directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to collect necessary information from all the districts of Jammu Division and thereafter tabulate the information so collected and submit a comprehensive status report by or before next date of hearing, sufficiently indicating the steps taken by district administration in each of the districts to identify the land for setting up solid waste management facility, also the steps taken for setting up such facilities.
“We make it clear that having regard to the mode and manner in which directions passed from time to time have been dealt with by those at the helm of the affairs, we would be left with no option but to ask for personal appearance of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as also Deputy Commissioners of all the districts so that accountability is fixed and the erring officers dealt with in accordance with law”, the DB remarked.
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