Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding status of compliance of waste management, India, 07/01/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 dated 07/01/2020 regarding status of compliance of waste management and other issues in different States/UTs in compliance of earlier orders of the NGT.
The NGT finds gaps in the December 2019 and January 2020 reports filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Tribunal said the reports give information about states who have given some information but the nature and extent of information which was required has not been furnished. Available information with regard to sewage generation and treatment shows huge gap. Grading made by the CPCB into ‘good’, ‘average’, ‘poor’ and ‘no information’ is not based on any qualitative analysis but extent of information furnished.
The NGT directed information to be furnished on three aspects: (i) solid waste management, including remediation of legacy waste in terms of earlier orders of this Tribunal, (ii) sewage treatment and restoration of 351 polluted river stretches and (iii) air quality management in 102 (122) non-attainment cities.
CPCB has been directed to redesign formats and secure relevant quantifiable information from the Chief Secretaries under different heads so that the Chief Secretaries are able to respond to the Tribunal on their appearance as per schedule of appearance already notified. Chairman and Member Secretary, CPCB may remain present on the dates of appearance of Chief Secretaries with relevant data.