Can't play with lives says SC to J&K administration on unscientific disposal of solid waste

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rapped the Jammu and Kashmir administration over unscientific dumping and disposal of solid waste, saying it cannot play with the lives of the people.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar dismissed a plea by the Municipal Committee of Bandipora against the imposition of environmental compensation of Rs 64.21 lakh for unscientific dumping and disposal of solid waste.

"Is it the way you deal with matters? Is it the consciousness of your state? You cannot play with the lives of the people.

Deposit the fine," the bench said while dismissing the plea filed by the civic body.

The lawyer appearing for the civic body submitted that the fine was levied despite the new dumping ground being ready.

He submitted that the municipal council has taken remedial action for the scientific management of solid waste.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Bandipora, Kashmir against an order of the National Green Tribunal which refused to quash the levy of the environmental compensation levied by the J-K State Pollution Control Committee.

The pollution control committee had found that the solid waste was being continuously dumped at the Zalwan Nassau site in close proximity to the district headquarters Bandipora and on the catchment of Wullar lake near Zalwan Nallah in a haphazard and unscientific manner by the municipal committee.

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