JKCAG, RTI Movement delegation meet DC Budgam

Srinagar, Mar 5: A delegation of J&K Climate Action Group -JKCAG & JK RTI Movement on Thursday had a detailed interaction with newly posted Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Amir Khan.

The group led by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat formally welcomed Athar Amir Khan for assuming the office of Deputy Commissioner / District Magistrate Budgam and presented him a Cypress Plant as a token of gratitude. The group also presented him a memorandum related to environmental degradation in Budgam especially with regard to earth mining, riverbed mining, waste management, said a press release.

During the meeting JKCAG & RTI Movement raised serious concern over non-payment of compensation to the Ring Road affected landowners from Wathoora Chadoora for which award stands to have been prepared and sent to NHAI by Collector Land Acquisition in November last year. Issues related to plantations on degraded land around Karewas, giving grazing rights to pastoralist communities and declaring Yousmarg, Doodhpathri and Tosamaidan as plastic free tourist destinations were also discussed. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat thanked Athar Amir Khan for his role in ensuring setting up of STPs on Doodh Ganga during his tenure as SMC Commissioner.

“As CM Omar Abdullah has formally laid the foundation stone for Sewage Treatment Plants-STPs on Doodh Ganga recently we urged upon DC Budgam to make sure this plant on Doodh Ganga downstream especially Chadoora to Mochwa Baghe Mehtab is set up efficiently as huge amount of around Rs 63 crores has been sanctioned for this work. DC Budgam assured that he will call a meeting of UEED officers soon to make sure better technology is used. He said that he would try to hold consultation with reputed institutions of the country in this regard. We discussed issues about sustainable earth mining and riverbed mining by obtaining proper environmental clearance-EC from competent agencies”   said Dr Raja Muzaffar. In addition to Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat the JKCAG, RTIM delegation consisted of Dr Rouf Malik, Mir Mushtaq, Advocate Shakir Parray and Gulzar Ahmad.