Srinagar, Apr 9 — Illegal dumping of solid and bio-medical waste continues unabated along a key stretch of the Poonch River, with authorities missing a clean-up deadline set before the National Green Tribunal, according to a fresh affidavit.
The submission, filed by environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat, alleges that commitments to remove legacy waste from the riverbanks have not been fulfilled, even a year after assurances were given.
“This is not mere negligence but a systematic failure,” the affidavit states, pointing to continued dumping and lack of corrective action.
The case, registered as Original Application No. 253 of 2023, pertains to illegal disposal of mixed and bio-medical waste along the river stretch between Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge and the Belar Nala confluence in Poonch district.
The tribunal had taken cognisance of the issue in April 2023, with the Municipal Council Poonch assuring that all legacy waste would be cleared by August 2025. However, recent photographic evidence dated April 1, 2026, shows heaps of garbage, decomposing carcasses, and waste lying dangerously close to flowing water.
According to the affidavit, not only has the old waste remained uncleared, but fresh dumping continues at the site.
It further alleges that heavy machinery is being used to push waste directly into the river. “This appears to be a deliberate attempt to reduce visible garbage on the banks while worsening pollution in the river,” the plea states.
The document warns of “irreversible environmental damage” and serious public health risks if contamination of the river water continues unchecked.
Seeking urgent intervention, the applicant has urged the tribunal to direct immediate removal of waste and fix accountability for lapses, as environmental degradation along the river intensifies.