Jammu: Ashok Kumar Former Legislature from Ramban has expressed serious concerns over the formation of heavy dust clouds on everyday basis from the last several years in Ramban and it’s peripheral towns due to construction process of four lane project on National Highway-44. In a statement issued here, he said that the newly elected DDC members are in complete slumber. Instead of criticizing the government and administration in this regard are praising them in handling of NH-44 Highway project and controlling Air pollution in RAMBAN town. In such a pandemic the air pollution is causing more threat to the people of Ramban.
While interacting with affected people he strongly urged upon the Ministry of Road and Transport, Government of India and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately constitute a new committee on risk and health assessment based on recent Environmental Impact Assessment and Sustainable Development Goals guidelines as the heavy dust or air pollution has been spreading across the mountainous region and may cause both acute and chronic health haphazard like nausea, nose irritation, eyes infections and it’s long term impact can cause respiratory dysfunctional, respiratory pulmonary disease, asthma and Cancer.
Ashok has said that during the construction process of four lane project, the impromptu cutting of mountain slopes has triggered landslides and sinking of land at various spots between Nashri to Banihal and it seems that there was no Risk Impact Assessment at the beginning or in the process of designing the project by the concerned companies and authorities. As the result, the daily commuters and passengers who travel on this stretch are risking their lives. Several people have lost their valuable lives due to shooting of stones and debris. Government is absolutely non serious about the loss of economic, environmental and social cost in the process of four lane project.
Ashok has further said that the most affected villages and towns are Dalwas, Peerah, Chanderkote, Karol, Maitra, Ramban, Seri, Digdol, Neera, Kenthi, Marog and Kundi. Approximately 2 lakhs of people in its surrounding are being affected by the dust everyday between Nashri to Banihal and thousands of daily passengers face the same. It is a great injustice to the innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir. The entire stretch between nashri and banihal has become catastrophic, people of the region are development friendly but not on the cost of lives.
Ashok has demanded to the Ministry of Road and Transport, GOI and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately provide environmental remediation to the Catastrophic landscape forged in the process of construction of Four Lane Project on NH-44. Ashok also questioned to the government to display in front of public that what steps have been taken for treatment and remedies to this environmental, economic and social loss. It is pertinent to mention that if the company would have taken the proper environmental measure during the design of project the government or company today would not have to bear the damaged cost.
