Official circular calls for FIRs, hefty fines for violators
PAMPORE: The Department of Wildlife Protection issued a stringent circular imposing a total prohibition on waste dumping in and around the ecologically sensitive Pampore wetlands and ordering the immediate removal of existing waste piles within three days, failing which legal action will be initiated.
The directive, issued by the Office of the Block Officer, Pampore Wetlands on December 2, 2025, explicitly bans the disposal of solid waste, construction debris, plastic, carcass material, or “any other form of waste” along the periphery of all notified wetlands under its jurisdiction. It highlights that these areas are vital habitats supporting significant populations of resident and migratory birds, and any dumping causes “severe ecological degradation.”
Citing the observed dumping of cow dung along the Chatlam Wetland periphery, the circular sets a hard deadline: “All such waste shall be removed within three (03) days from the issuance of this circular, failing which action under rules shall be initiated against the violators.”
The order outlines severe consequences for non-compliance. Any individual, group, or establishment found violating the ban will be liable to a monetary fine under environmental regulations. Furthermore, “An FIR shall be registered against the violator under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Environmental Protection Act, and other applicable laws.”
The Department has stated it will conduct regular monitoring and that violators will be proceeded against “without any leniency.”
The circular concludes by soliciting public cooperation in “maintaining environmental hygiene, protecting sensitive habitats, and ensuring the long-term conservation of Pampore Wetlands.”