New Delhi — The Municipal Council Poonch has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the tendering process for clearing nearly 90,000 metric tonnes of legacy waste dumped along the banks of the Poonch river is in its final stages, with work expected to be allotted within two weeks.
The matter was heard by the NGT’s Principal Bench, headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava, with Expert Member Dr. Senthil Vail in attendance. CEO of Municipal Council Poonch, Khalil Ahmad Banday, and Additional District Magistrate Tahir Mustaffa Malik appeared before the bench, along with Advocate Itisha Awasthi, representing petitioner Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat.
Bio-Mining Site Under Scrutiny
Appearing via video conference, the CEO informed the tribunal that 90,000 MT of legacy waste is lying near the Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge on the riverbank. He said a site located about 130 metres from the river has been identified for the proposed bio-mining facility.
However, when asked, the CEO could not confirm whether the selected site falls within the floodplain of the Poonch river. The tribunal directed him to verify the status using historical flood records and file an affidavit within four weeks.
“CEO MC Poonch could not point out if the said site falls within the flood plain of the river… He is directed to ascertain this fact… and file an affidavit disclosing the progress in this regard,” the NGT order dated November 13, 2025 states.
Tendering Process Near Completion
The tribunal was informed that seven bidders have responded to the tender issued for the bio-mining of the waste. Technical evaluation is underway and expected to conclude within a week.
“The technical evaluation is in progress… will be completed within a period of one week and the L1 will be decided within two weeks and the work will be awarded,” the CEO told the NGT.
The tribunal directed the Municipal Council to submit progress details within four weeks.
Environmental Compensation Recovery
Counsel for the J&K Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), Advocate Gautam Singh, informed the bench that ₹25 lakh has so far been recovered against the environmental compensation of ₹1.61 crore imposed earlier.
“Action has been initiated to recover the remaining amount by way of attachment and auction,” he said. The NGT asked the JKPCC to submit an updated status report within four weeks.
Petitioner, Civil Society Seek Long-Term Clean-Up
Petitioner Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who has been advocating for the removal of legacy waste from the riverbank, recently met district authorities and expressed cautious optimism. He said he suggested diverting biodegradable waste to the Salotri area for regular processing, and received assurances from the Deputy Commissioner and the Municipal Council.
“I am sure that Poonch town would be neat and clean in another six months to a year, provided the district administration and MC Poonch show the same seriousness they exhibited during our recent meeting,” Dr. Muzaffar said.
Next Hearing Scheduled
The NGT has posted the matter for the next hearing on January 6, 2025.
