The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the Delhi government to pay 900 crore as environmental compensation for improper management of solid municipal waste, which states that “citizens may not face emergency situation due to lack of governance.”
According to a bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, about 80% of the heritage waste at the three landfill sites – Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla – was not treated. The quantity of old waste at three dumpsites was 300 lakh metric tonnes.
bench, which included expert members A Senthil Val and Afroz Ahmed as well as Justice Sudhir Agarwal, said the scenario painted a bleak picture of an environmental emergency in the national capital. “Due to lack of governance, the citizens may not have to face the emergency situation,” the bench said.
The bench said that the most basic safety precautions against groundwater pollution, sustained methane and other harmful gas emissions, and even repeated fires are not taken.
“There is no need to repeat the alarming consequences of the huge amount of accumulated and unscientific collected garbage which are mountains,” the bench said.
The Green Tribunal further observed that the scarce and expensive public land was occupied by garbage dumps. Pointing to the financial cost of negligence, the bench said, “The area is 152 acres and the cost is more than the conservative rate. 10,000 crore at the applicable circle rate and thus the urgency to retrieve the said public property for beneficial public use.”
according to NGTThe authorities concerned failed to uphold the public trust principle to protect the environment and the health of the general public.
It further said, “The steps taken so far do not fulfill the mandate of the law and are not in line with the serious factual emergency situation, which continues to endanger the safety and health and environment of the citizens, who are not required to act by the officials assigned the task.” There is no accountability.”
The NGT said a new, thoughtful strategy in mission mode is needed along with immediate action to address the issue.
While fixing the accountability of the state authorities for past violations, the bench said, “We hold the National Capital Territory of Delhi liable to pay environmental compensation 900 crore in respect of the quantity of undetermined waste to the extent of 30 million metric tonnes at three landfill sites.
The Bench said that this amount may be put into a ring-fenced account by the Chief Secretary of Delhi to follow up on the directions for environmental restoration through waste treatment and other measures.
Additionally, it directed the officials to ensure that the existing waste was disposed of as per the norms and was not added to the old waste sites.
According to the tribunal, turfing landfill sites—the planting of at least three rows of tall, fast-growing native trees around the perimeter of the sites—can help control stink and enhance aesthetics.
The bench said that the government can also create tourism and entertainment facilities.
It was stated that the already established 13-member monitoring committee headed by the Chief Secretary may coordinate with any other concerned departments and take the help of any additional experts or institutions to expedite the formulation and implementation of the action plan. Is.
The NGT mandated that an interim progress report be submitted by January 15, 2023, outlining the status of compliance by December 31, 2022.
(with inputs from PTI)
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