SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) has asked the government to review the system of monitoring at Lakhanpur post, the important gateway on the Punjab border, to make the state polythene free.
The court has asked the government to review the system of monitoring at Lakhanpur check post to make Jammu and Kashmir a polythene-free State.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar while passing the direction on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) observed that besides stopping entry of polythene into Jammu and Kashmir, the measure would bolster payment of various taxes to government.
The court passed the directions after going through State’s compliance report and Amicus Curiae’s suggestions which called for putting in place a broad checking system at Lakhanpur to prevent entry of polythene in the State.
In his compliance report, Deputy Commissioner Commercial Tax stated that 95 per cent of trade takes place through the check-post Lakhanpur and on average 2,500 vehicles cross the post every day.
Senior advocate Z A Shah pointing out that nearly whole trading activities are transacted through Lakhanpur check-post said there was necessity of more effective mechanism in place.
The court said that the State is blessed with natural beauty and large number of water bodies.
However, the use of polythene is causing huge damage to natural ecology of the State, the court said adding a complete mechanism is required to effectively check the vehicles from carrying any contraband including polythene from outside the state.
After perusing the status report by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department pointing out that powers have now been delegated by Pollution Control Board (PCB) to all police officers regarding entry, inspection and seizure of polythene, the court said.
The PCB in its compliance report pointed out that biodegradable based carry bags have been recommended by the expert committee stating the same may be permitted for testing at the initial stage at trial basis.
Some suggestions were made to the court to allow some units to manufacture the product which will use the raw material duly certified by Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology and Central Pollution Control Board.
The Court observed that jute, cloth and paper bags a which are already in vogue should continue to be in use as these bags would provide effective alternative to polythene carry bags.
If any proposal is finalized by the expert committee, the same will be placed before the court, it said.
