Pulwama, April 08 : With an aim of sensitizing law students about different environmental laws, a roundtable was held at KCEF Law College Pulwama in association with J&K Climate Action Group-JKCAG. The programme was presided over by Prof Abdul Hamid Sheikh Director of KCEF Law College. Chairman J&K Climate Action Group Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat deliberated upon the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , Water Pollution Act 1974, Air Pollution Act 1981 , Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2016 and 2026. He also explained his own case studies, success stories vis a vis these laws and intervention by the National Green Tribunal- NGT .
Environmental Lawyer Advocate Shakir Parray explained how Riverbed Mining Rules were violated in J&K and quoted a case study from Sukhnag river wherein 163 disposal permits were given without any environmental clearance. He said that ensuring adherence to environmental & mining laws on ground through NGTs intervention has broken the “atmosphere of silence” as the mining mafia had created a fear psychosis among people in Kashmir valley.
RTI Activist Mushtaq Ahmad Lone explained how MSW Rules 2016 were being violated while implementing Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin programme. He said that waste segregation sheds set up by the Govt had turned into garbage dumping sites and no segregation of waste takes place in these sheds.
He also raised questions about open defecation free status given to many villages ? He urged the students to use environmental laws for public good.
The roundtable discussion focused on key themes such as solid waste management, riverbed mining , water pollution etc. Students interacted with speakers at the end of the programme.
Law students Bisma Jan (9th semester), Suriya Khalil (4th semester), Shanu Jan (LLB 4th), Momin (9th semester) and Aquib Gulzar (9th semester) highlighted several critical issues
confronting Kashmir, including degradation of water bodies, deforestation, and rising pollution levels.
College faculty Rayees Ahmad Wani gave a vote of thanks and acknowledged the efforts of the organizers especially Prof Abdul Hamid Sheikh and Ajaz Ahmad Lone for holding the event. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat appealed participants to identify an environmental issue and take that up with their concerned District Magistrates and even NGT. He said that a followup workshop would be held in the college campus in the month of May. After the event the students, speakers and faculty members participated in the plantation drive in the college campus. The students hailed the initiative for promoting environmental consciousness for the future legal professionals.(KNS)
