Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding dumping of muck illegally during the construction of Rattle Hydro Electric Power Project, village Drabshalla, district Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir, 03/12/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of President Municipal Committee Thathri VS Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir dated 03/12/2024.
Joint committee report dated November 25, 2024 has been filed through the Central Pollution Control Board. Project proponents stated that they want to file an objection to the joint committee report and for this purpose wants a longer time of almost a month. Dumping of muck is on the side of river damaging everyday, river hydrology, morphology and ecology and also affecting flora and fauna and it is a matter which requires urgent attention and Proponents who are carrying on such kind of activities must be stopped from carrying out such activities, the court said.
Thus, a longer date in such matter would only encourage and continue with destruction of environment everyday which cannot be permitted, particularly, considering the fact that the area concerned is a fragile area of Himalaya, the court noted. However, since reasonable opportunity against the Joint Committee report needed to be granted to project proponents, the court allowed two weeks’ time to concerned respondents to file objections, if any, to the Joint Committee report.
A letter petition was sent by the President Municipal Committee Thathri, District Doda, Jammu & Kashmir on November 25, 2023. The complainant has said that Rattle Hydro Electric Power Project, Drabshalla district Kishtwar, Jammu & Kashmir is under construction/execution by M/s Megga Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. The working agency is dumping debris / muck in river Chenab instead of storing and dumping the same at the location allotted by the Revenue Department of Kishtwar. On account of unauthorized and illegal dumping of debris in river Chenab during the rainy season heavy losses were suffered by the residents of Thathri due to flood situation caused in river Chenab. Thathri town is situated almost on the bank of river Chenab at zero distance.