Despite the recent orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the dumping of waste in Patiala Ki Rao river in Sector 74, Mohali, the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MMC) continues to dump garbage along the bank of the seasonal rivulet. In what could be termed as a clear violation of the NGT’s recent order on the issue, no precautions that are mandatory as per the Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 are being taken by the authorities concerned. Notably, in its order, the NGT has restrained the MMC or any other person from dumping any kind of waste in Patiala Ki Rao here. The MMC Commissioner, Uma Shankar Gupta, said, “We have earmarked points near the river and no garbage is being dumped beyond those points.” Notably, Point 8 of Schedule III (specifications of landfill sites) of MSW Rules 2000 clearly states that ‘The landfill site shall be away from habitation clusters, forest areas, water bodies monuments, national parks, wetlands and places of important cultural, historical or religion interest’. In its observation last year, a special team, comprising the then MC Commissioner, Mohali SDM and environmental engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board claimed that it was an unauthorised site as the MMC has never been granted authorisation under the MSW Rules 2000. It was also observed that no segregation of MSW was being done before dumping the same at the site. The dumping yard is located in the Sector 74 Industrial Area, which houses several IT companies. The dumping yard has several companies at a stone’s throw distance. The MSW rules also specify that a buffer zone of no-development shall be maintained around the site. The rules state that the site shall be fenced or hedged with proper gate to monitor incoming vehicles or other mode of transportation, shall have approach and other internal roads for free movement of vehicles and other machinery, wastes shall be covered immediately or at the end of each day with minimum 10 cm of soil and that it must have a cover of 40-65 cm thickness of soil on the landfill with proper compaction and grading to prevent infiltration prior to commencement of monsoon. In a random survey about the dumping yard, the Tribune team found that most of rules under MSWR-2000 were being ignored with impunity. The president of Mohali Industries and Commerce Association, Nikhil Saraf, said the site was unauthorised and they (the industrialists) have submitted several applications to the authorities to remove it from the industrial area. “Apart from stink and other inconveniences, the presence of dumping yard in the sector also affects our business,” said Saraf. On the other hand, the MC Commissioner claimed that by dumping the garbage at the present site, no violation of any rule or court order is being made. “We will file our reply to the NGT soon,” said Gupta.