Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding dumping of waste in Shakti Khand, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 02/09/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Confederation of Trans Hindan RWA’s Ghaziabad Vs Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board & Others dated 02/09/2020.
The issue for consideration was non-compliance of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in not collecting garbage from Indirapuram, Vasundhara and Vaishali which was being dumped at Shakti Khand, adversely affecting the air quality. It was alleged that there was a huge fire in the garbage on October 20, 2017 by burning of the garbage at the dump. Waste was not being segregated. Non-degradable waste was not being recycled.
The matter has been considered on several occasions in light of factual reports submitted to the Tribunal by the concerned statutory authorities and it has been found that there is no scientific management of garbage, resulting in damage to the environment and public health.
A report has been filed on August 28, 2020 by the District Magistrate, Ghaziabad which does not show any meaningful progress. Report has also been filed by Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam on August 27, 2020 which merely refers to some paper work, the NGT said. The Tribunal recorded its disapproval at such attitude of the statutory authorities in dealing with "such important and sensitive issue of garbage management, affecting the environment and public health which are basic needs of the citizens."
The NGT directed that meaningful steps be taken by the statutory authorities expeditiously and compliance report filed. The Tribunal requested the oversight Committee headed by Justice S V S Rathore, former Judge of Allahabad High Court to look into the matter and give its independent report in the matter. The case has been listed again for January 19, 2021.