Jammu Feb 26 :- Expressing serious concern over the rising pollution, depleting forest cover and exploitation of wildlife in Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference, JK-BADC, a registered body working for the welfare of people of border areas of J & K today demanded establishment of Jammu and Kashmir Green Tribunal on the pattern of ‘NGT, National Green Tribunal’.
Dr Shazad Malik, the former Vice Chancellor and Chairman of JK-BADC in a statement here have said that pollution is rising in J & K and not only in cities but also in rural areas and this should be a matter of concern not only for the government agencies but also the common man must contribute in this regard.
He said unchecked depletion of forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir needs immediate attention and intervention therefore it is imperative that on the pattern of NGT, a Union Territory level body be established wherein local Individuals and organization may raise local issues concerning the environment.
The BADC Chairman citing the examples of Private factories, Rural and Urban Local bodies of J & K said that these agencies dispose of untreated solid, liquid and even unfiltered chemical waste in the rivers that cause damage to environment and there is an immediate need to put a legal sanction against such individual and bodies .
Dr Shazad said, the NGT headquarter is stationed at Delhi and commoners in Jammu and Kashmir are unaware and find it too cumbersome to approach it, therefore J & K Union Territory Government is requested to establishes its own Green Tribunal wherein local issues related to department be disposed of within a time limit.
