Times
of India: Dehradun: Monday, 26 January 2015.
The forest
department has filed a complaint against the officials of Jal Sansthan for
dumping sewage waste in a reserve forest area in Haldwani. In reply to an RTI
application by Gurvinder Singh Chaddha, it was revealed that the agency has
been dumping 2.6 crore liters of sewage every day in the forest area near Gaula
river.
The Jal
Sansthan's action violates the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and many other
laws. "The case was registered against the employees of Jal Sansthan and
municipal corporation for violation of laws and endangering the
environment," said C S Pandey, Gaulapur range officer.
It is learnt
that the forest department officials have been writing letters to the municipal
corporation and Jal Sansthan to resolve the matter, but to no avail. "This
has been going on since two years now. More than 950 crore liters of sewage is
being dumped every year which harms the flora and fauna of the reserve
area," said RTI activist Gurvinder Singh Chaddha.
The sewage is
dumped in the area violating at least four laws Forest Conservation Act 1980,
Environment Protection Act 1986, Public Liability Act 1991 and Biological
Diversity Act 2002. The complaint regarding the violation of laws and usage of
the reserve forest area to dump sewage waste has been forwarded to the National
Green Tribunal and the higher authorities of the forest department in the state
and the central government.
.JPG)
.JPG)
