Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding solid waste and sewage management in Jharkhand, 30/05/2022
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Anil Kumar Singh Vs State of Jharkhand & Others dated 30/05/2022.
Grievance in the application is against failure of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to scientifically manage solid waste in accordance with statutory obligation under the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2010 and constitutional obligation to provide a clean environment to the citizens, which is part of the right to life.
The application was filed December 17, 2014 and came up for hearing first time, January 7, 2015.
The NGT, May 30, 2022 noted that "reference to orders passed from time to time in the present case shows that progress shown by the State appears to be in the form of paper notings for issuing tenders and other processes without actual execution on the ground." The green bench expressed its displeasure with the affidavit containing minutes of the meeting of the State Level Technical Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Urban Development, April 12, 2022 mentioning the status of legacy waste projects in 11 municipalities of the state.
The NGT said that the report showed an extremely unsatisfactory state of affairs which was detrimental for the public health, environment and rule of law. Adequate waste processing facilities were not shown to have been established nor adequacy of sewage management is shown.
"As per Annual Report of CPCB (2019 - 20), 2188.9 TPD waste is generated and only 731.76 TPD is treated/ processed and thus 1179.76 TPD is landfilled in the State with 42 ULBs," the three member bench comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel, Sudhir Agarwal and B. Amit Sthalekar said.
The NGT said that it appeared that Jharkhand was not doing its primary duty of waste management on the pretext of waiting for central funds and directed Chief Secretary, Jharkhand to take further stringent action in the matter to comply with constitutional and statutory duty of the state to its citizens for scientific handling of the solid waste as well as sewage. Ranchi Municipal Corporation has been directed to deposit interim compensation of Rs. 2 crores with the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board for restoration of the environment.