Tarigami chairs Environment Committee meeting

Asks Govt to release pending salary of daily wagers before Eid

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 28: The Committee on Environment (EC) of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly observed that the construction of Power Projects in the State is important for overall development but the need is to keep in view the impact on environment, while taking existing and new power projects in hand.

The Committee which met here today under the chairmanship of MLA, Mohammad Yousuf  Tarigami to discuss the magnitude of impact of all the existing and upcoming Hydro Power Projects on environment including safeguarding the other environmental impacts.

Legislators Shamim Firdous, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Mohammad Abass Wani, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and Anjum Fazili attended the meeting and gave their valuable suggestions for safeguarding the environment of the state besides expediting the tendering process of the different power projects in the state.

The Committee decided to send a recommendation to the Government to provide adequate funds to the concerned department for release of pending wages of casual labourers working in the state before the Eid festival.

The Committee directed the concerned authorities of Forests and other concerned departments to submit a detailed comprehensive reports of environment management of all hydro power projects of the state besides its environment audit report.

The Committee asked the Managing Director, JKPDC to submit a brief note on the working of each department which are connected with hydro power projects so that the Committee will fix Corporate Social Responsibility of each department under the project management plan. The Committee sought views and suggestions from the concerned officers so that it incorporate in Committee report.

The members of the Committee highlighted the various issues regarding the power projects of the state as well as working in their areas. MLA, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan asked the concerned authorities to expedite the tendering process of mini hydro project, Ans- I and II existing in Gulabgarh besides releasing of salary of daily wagers.

MLA, Choudhary Mohammad Akram asked the concerned for expediting the working of land acquisition process of Parnai hydro project so that the projects would be completed as early as possible. MLA, Bashir Ahmed Dar asked the concerned funds released by the NHPC for Uri hydro project has utilized for other purpose.  

Earlier, Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), Shah Faesal briefed the Committee about the steps taken by the Corporation to protect the preservation and conservation of environment of the areas where the project have been established.  

Development Commissioner Power, Asgar Ali Majaz, Secretary Legislative Assembly, M R Singh, ED (E) Ajay Gupta, Secretary (Tech) PDD, Gul Aijaz, Chief Engineer, NGHE, Chief Geologist, JKPDC, Chief Engineer, M&RE, Chief Engineer, M&RE, Jammu, Chief Engineer, PDC, besides the officers of Assembly Secretariat attended the meeting.