J&K HC to hear PIL on polythene ban on June 2

The Jammu and Kashmir High court will hear on June 2 the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Valley Citizen Council (VCC) seeking the Court’s intervention to ban the import and use of polythene in Kashmir, alleging that some polythene-friendly lobby was preventing the state government from banning the major threat to environment.

VCC general secretary Imdad Saqi, in the six-page PIL, has sought immediate intervention on the issue, alleging the state government has failed to ban the import and use of polythene which was a major threat to environment.

He said two years ago the state government issued a SRO banning the use of non-biodegradable material. However, till date its implementation was awaited as the file is still pending before the concerned department, who show no interest because of reasons best known to them.

Mr Saqi demanded action against the officers and officials responsible for keeping the file in the cold storage.

He said as the implementation of the SRO needs a rule book for framing of procedures with regard to issues like imposition of fine and prosecution, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) after completing the formalities, sent the file to state forest department two years ago for administrative wetting. However, till date it has not been done and the file is pending with forest department.

He further said that the Housing and Urban Development Department was also responsible for not implementing the ban.

He said three years before the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had sent a resolution to the department to get the approval from the government, banning the use of the polythene. But, he said, till date there was no response from the department.

Mr Saqi said every environmental problem in Kashmir is related to plastic and polythene. Even this has badly affected the famous Dal Lake and other bodies.