Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding an open garbage dump in in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, West Bengal, 04/09/2023
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench) in the matter of In Re: News Item published in Times of India, Kolkata edition dated 29.08.2023 titled “Kestopur neighbourhood raises a stink over open vat, Kolkata” dated 04/09/2023.
The matter was taken-up suo motu in view of a newspaper report published in ‘The Times of India, Kolkata’ August 29, 2023 which talked about an open garbage dump at Kestopur’s Nazrul Park area on the canal side in Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation ward no. 18. Residents alleged the civic authorities are reluctant to look into repeated requests to clean up the area and they have been intimidated by the local councilor when they approach him. "Daily generated waste from nearby areas of New Town, Jagatpur Bazar and Mridha market are dumped here and not being removed properly," said one of the local resident Parimal Karmakar.
The court noted that the residents had submitted a memorandum to the local authorities in the matter but no action has been taken. The NGT was of the opinion that the matter required consideration and directed notices to be issued to Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department and Commissioner of Police, Bidhannnagar Police Commissionerate. The court directed the respondents to file their counter-affidavits within two weeks and listed the matter for September 20, 2023.