Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding legacy waste dumped at Bandhwari landfill site, near Gurgaon, Haryana, 07/04/2021
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Vivek Kamboj & Others Vs Union of India & Others dated 07/04/2021. The issue for consideration is the remedial action, as per statutory rules, for the legacy waste dumped at Bandhwari landfill site, near Gurgaon.
The waste dumped is from Gurgaon and Faridabad. Inaction of the authorities in scientific management of the waste has resulted in leachate being discharged, causing contamination of the ground water, polluting surface water and also polluting the air, with potential for damage to the public health and the environment.
The matter was last considered on March 9, 2021 in continuation of order September 30, 2020 and it was found that the progress was disappointing and damage to the environment and public health continued on account of inadequate monitoring by the state authorities. Out of 33 lakh tonne waste, less than 1 lakh tonne waste was remediated in the last one year.
The Tribunal has been monitoring the remedial action by the Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon in the last more than 5 years and has repeatedly found failure of the authorities in performing their basic responsibility, to effectuate the right of the citizens to clean environment, the bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justices Sudhir Agarwal and Brijesh Sethi said April 7, 2021.
The court directed that the objections of the applicant that forest land is being used in violation of law may also be looked into and compliance of law ensured. Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon must continue the biomining work as well as setting up of waste processing plants as proposed.
The state of Haryana has been asked to take ownership of its basic responsibility in the interest of rule of law, protection of environment and public health. The authorities should take further remedial action consistent with earlier orders of the Tribunal, the order said.