Latest news with #MunicipalSolidWasteRules
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
NGT fines Ghaziabad civic body ₹17.45 lakh for illegal waste dumping at Apsara Border
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an environmental compensation of ₹17.45 lakh on the Ghaziabad municipal corporation for allegedly dumping municipal solid waste in violation of waste management rules. The order, delivered on July 31 while disposing of a petition by Laxmi Narain, a resident of Chikambarpur village, directed that the amount be deposited with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) within two months. The NGT said the compensation would be used to remediate environmental damage in accordance with a plan to be drawn up by a committee comprising officials of the Central Pollution Control Board, UPPCB, and the Ghaziabad district magistrate. Narain had complained that the corporation was dumping waste at the Apsara Border area — in the Ghaziabad–Dilshad Garden stretch near GT Road — causing foul odour and air pollution, and posing a risk of disease outbreaks and groundwater contamination due to leachate seepage. 'We accordingly, in exercise of power under Section 15 read with Section 20 of the NGT Act, 2010, and invoking the principle of 'Polluter Pays,' impose environmental compensation of ₹17,45,000 upon respondent 1, which shall be paid within two months,' the tribunal said. It added that the corporation had 'miserably failed to comply with the provisions of the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016, and committed illegalities in management, transportation, processing, and disposal of the solid waste' in the area. The NGT said the compensation would be used to remediate environmental damage in accordance with a plan to be drawn up by a committee comprising officials of the Central Pollution Control Board, UPPCB, and the Ghaziabad district magistrate. When contacted, corporation officials said they intended to seek a review. 'We are analyzing the order in detail,' said Mithilesh Kumar, city health officer. The case was based partly on an inspection by UPPCB officials on March 3, 2025. Their report said the site — measuring about 1,600 sqm — temporarily held waste from four wards, with around 40 metric tonnes of garbage lying there at the time. While no leachate or sewage was found entering the adjoining stormwater drain, the site was 'in an unhygienic condition' with a foul smell, and waste scattered in the area due to the absence of a boundary wall. The report also noted that no consent to operate or establish had been obtained from the pollution board for the site. Earlier, the tribunal had directed the municipal commissioner to file a compliance report. In an affidavit dated November 9, 2024, the corporation said the site was a secondary garbage collection centre (SGCC) set up a few years ago to temporarily store waste from four wards. It said five other SGCCs in the area had been closed in the past four to five years, and that most problems at the Apsara Border site occurred during the monsoon but were addressed promptly. On March 1, 2025, the corporation submitted another affidavit stating it had decided to shift the SGCC to a new facility in Chikambarpur within two months. In a third affidavit dated July 4, 2025, it said the Apsara Border site had been cleared and was now proposed to be used as a zonal office, with tendering for the work underway. However, the tribunal said the corporation had failed to specify where the new collection point was located or whether it complied with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016. 'No specific reply could be given,' it noted, adding that the July 4 affidavit was 'silent' on compliance regarding the new site.
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of environmental degradation of Nagpur's Futala Lake
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the declining condition of Futala Lake in Maharashtra's Nagpur. A bench, headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Futala Lake's charm fades amid neglect and poor maintenance". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted that the lake, once a popular spot for locals, now faces hygiene issues and environmental degradation due to neglect and poor maintenance. The news item also highlighted that the absence of functional public toilets has led visitors to resort to unhygienic alternatives, and the lake's shore is covered with trash like flower garlands and plastic bags, causing a foul smell. "[D]espite efforts by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prevent the immersion of idols and religious offerings, enforcement remains weak, resulting in continued pollution,' noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Western Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of the Pune's Western Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Western Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Pune on 06.08.2025 after obtaining orders from Hon'ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required," the NGT ordered. It added that responses may be filed by the authorities before the Western Zone Bench of the green tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
Indian Express
21-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Chandigarh achieves 100% wastewater treatment capacity
With the treatment capacity exceeding its wastewater generation, Chandigarh has achieved a significant milestone in environmental management. The city currently generates approximately 232 million litres per day (MLD) of wastewater, against a treatment capacity of about 255 MLD — marking over 100 per cent treatment capability. This development was highlighted during a review meeting chaired by Rajeev Verma, chief secretary, UT Chandigarh, to assess compliance with the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a matter of 2018 regarding the compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Mandip Singh Brar, secretary (environment and local government), Chandigarh Administration; Diprava Lakra, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration; Saurabh Kumar, director (environment), Chandigarh Administration; Amit Kumar, commissioner, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh; C B Ojha, Chief Engineer, Engineering Department, Chandigarh Administration; and Sanjay Arora, chief engineer, MC. Kumar, who also serves as member secretary of CPCC, briefed the gathering on the city's waste management performance. All Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are under close monitoring, and expert consultations are underway to ensure full compliance with prescribed norms. Weekly reviews are being held to ensure that no untreated sewage is discharged into natural drains. The laying of a tertiary treated water distribution network is progressing steadily, with connections being extended to parks, roundabouts, road berms, kanal houses, institutions, and industrial units, the official said. Regarding solid waste, the city generates about 500 tonnes per day (TPD), which is collected door-to-door by the MC using specially designed compartmentalised vehicles. This waste is entirely processed, and the bioremediation of legacy waste is currently in progress, targeted for completion by July 2025. Leachate from the landfill is being managed via two operational leachate treatment plants (LTPs). The Chief Secretary directed that all remaining works be expedited and completed within the set de Strict instructions were issued to ensure that no untreated wastewater enters the choes or drains, and no solid waste is dumped across the city. Departments were asked to implement detailed plans to prevent illegal dumping, especially at vulnerable sites, and begin phased installation of CCTV cameras for enforcement under MC's Bye-Laws 2018. He also instructed the civic body to intensify efforts in waste segregation through surprise inspections and impose fines on violators, along with maintaining strict vigilance against solid waste burning.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh chief secy reviews status of solid and liquid waste mgmt compliance
Chief secretary Rajeev Verma on Thursday reviewed the status of solid and liquid waste management compliance in the case pertaining before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the matter 'Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016 and other Environmental Issues'. During the meeting, chief secretary was briefed about the status of waste water generation and its treatment. Performance of all the sewage treatment plants (STPs) was reviewed and it was informed that Chandigarh has a capacity of approx 255 megalitres per day (MLD) against the generation of approx 232 MLD. MC commissioner Amit Kumar explained the steps taken by the civic body to ensure performance of the STPs to meet the norms and to check the discharge of untreated water into choes. It was informed that approx 500 TPD waste is being generated in Chandigarh, which the MC collects through door-to-door collection in specially compartmentalised vehicles, and the same is being processed by the civic body completely. Arrangements are being made to speed up the bio-remediation work and to complete the same before the monsoon. It was informed that Leachate, which is being generated in a landfill site, is being treated through two nos. of Leachate Treatment Plants (LTP). Chief secretary directed that all the works should be completed as per the timeline given to NGT and concerned departments should ensure that no untreated waste water is released into choes/drains and no solid waste should be dumped anywhere in Chandigarh, including the choes, failing which action would be initiated against the concerned official. MC should ensure complete segregation of waste and in case of non-compliance fine should be imposed on defaulters. It should also be ensured that no burning of waste should take place anywhere in Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by Mandip Singh Brar, secretary environment and local government; Diprava Lakra, finance secretary; Saurabh Kumar, director environment; Amit Kumar, MC commissioner; Anoop Soni, Conservator of Forests.
