Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding management of solar panel waste in the country, 19/07/2022
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of 'Article Published in the magazine i.e Down to earth dated 13 January 2022 Under the Title Time's running out : Is India ready to handle 34,600 tonnes of Solar waste by 2030 ' dated 19/07/2022.
Suo Motu cognizance has been taken by the tribunal on an article published in ‘Down to Earth’, January 13, 2022 under the title ‘Times’s running out: Is India ready to handle 34,000 tonnes of Solar Waste by 2030?’ to the effect that India’s ambitious solar target is 280 GW by 2030 and it is high time to formulate a sound solar waste management policy, whereas India does not have a solar waste management policy.
The NGT, February 14, 2022 constituted a joint committee to look into the matter and it was directed that an action plan be prepared for environmentally sound management of solar panel waste in accordance with the laid down norms.
In accordance, the joint committee report, May 17, 2022 filed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) informed the court that a meeting was held, April 7, 2022 and a report of the committee on 'Circular Economy in Solar Panels' has been filed before the court.
The report suggests for an action plan with phase wise steps to enable environmentally sound management of solar panel waste.
In view of the above, the NGT, July 19, 2022 directed the MoEF&CC to finalise further action in the matter expeditiously, preferably within two months.