NGT issues notice to Punjab chief secy
LUDHIANA: : Taking suo motu cognisance of the shanty fire accident near a main garbage dump here that claimed the lives of seven family members, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to chief secretary, Punjab, to explain the reason for continued failure to deal with the accumulated legacy waste at the dump site and why accountability of the state be not fixed in the incident.
Referring to media reports regarding the incident, chairperson of the tribunal Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, in the order dated April 21, has directed the monitoring committee of the NGT in the state to furnish a factual report within 15 days regarding the cause of the deaths, persons responsible and remedial action which is needed to be taken. The tribunal stated that failure to clear the legacy waste is a continuing health hazard, apart from being a source of pollution. It asked why accountability of the state be not fixed under section 15 of the NGT act.
Following Wednesday’s tragic incident near the main garbage dump site of Ludhiana MC on Tajpur road, it was suspected that the fire broke due to a splinter of burning waste from the dump situated around 20 feet away from the shanty. Regular fire incidents were being reported at the dump site for six days prior to the incident.
The tribunal stated that it appears to be the failure of state in remediating the garbage dump site as per the mandate under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and right of citizens to clean environment. This is despite the fact that the tribunal has passed orders for compliance of rules within the stipulated timelines on March 7, 2019 and January 10, 2020 in the presence of the chief secretary. Over 20 lakh tonnes of garbage is accumulated at the dump site.
Issuing notice to the chief secretary, NGT has asked for a comprehensive plan to handle such situations at all locations where legacy waste is lying unremediated with potential for such incidents and continuing damage to environment and public health. The authorities have been directed to submit the reply before the next hearing of the case scheduled on May 26. The NGT directed the monitoring committee to visit the site and interact with stakeholders. The committee will also be assisted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), PPCB and DC.