The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 200 crores on Nagaland on Saturday for allegedly failing to manage solid and liquid waste management, causing environmental harm, Business Standard reported.
Considering the statement about a gap in sewage generation and treatment, as well as a gap in solid waste management, a bench led by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel issued an order on November 24 that stated, “We levy compensation of Rs 200 crores on the State on the polluter pays principle for its failure in scientifically managing the liquid and solid waste in violation of the mandate of law, particularly judgments of the Supreme Court and this Tribunal.”
In light of the said observations, the bench also stated that the amount can be kept in a ring-fenced account to be operated only as directed by the Chief Secretary for waste management in the State.
“Rs 200 crores be utilized for setting up solid waste processing facilities, remediation of legacy waste and setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and FSSTPs so there remains no gap,” it added.
“We hope in the light of interaction with the Chief Secretary, the State of Nagaland will take further measures in the matter by an innovative approach and stringent monitoring, ensuring that gaps in solid and liquid waste generation and treatment are bridged at the earliest, shortening the proposed timelines, adopting alternative / interim measures to the extent and wherever found viable,” the bench said.
“The restoration plans need to be executed simultaneously in all districts, cities, towns, and villages in a time-bound manner without further delay. Compliance be ensured by Chief Secretary,” the Tribunal directed.
The Tribunal is monitoring the issues of solid and liquid waste management in accordance with the Supreme Court order dated September 2, 2014 for solid waste management and the order dated February 22, 2017 for liquid waste management.
“Other related issues included pollution of 351 river stretches, 124 non-attainment cities in terms of air quality, 100 polluted industrial clusters, illegal sand mining etc. which have also been dealt with earlier, but we propose to limit the proceedings in the present matter to two issues of solid waste and sewage management,” said the order.
In light of the continued non-compliance, the Tribunal directed the personal presence of Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories for interaction to ensure compliance in an order dated January 16, 2019.
The Tribunal also held that large-scale non-compliance of environmental norms was resulting in deaths and diseases and irreversible damage to the environment, without accountability for such failures.
Though the violation of the rules and orders of the Tribunal is a criminal offence, still there was a rampant violation by State authorities practically with no accountability. The unhappy situation was required to be remedied by the involvement of the highest functionaries of the State in the interest of public health and to uphold rule of law.
