The National Green Tribunal on Monday has slapped a fine of Rs 25 crore on the Delhi government to deposit for its failure to address the rising pollution in the national capital. The tribunal also directed it to deposit the amount with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also asked the Aam Aadmi Party government to furnish a performance guarantee of Rs 25 crore with the apex pollution monitoring body to ensure that there is no further lapse in this regard. Rapping the authorities, it said despite clear instructions given by the tribunal, hardly any action was taken for compliance of its orders. It further observed that pollution continues unabated in flagrant violation of law and under the nose of the authorities "who have hardly done anything concrete except furnishing excuses and helplessness".
The green panel said that even after more than four-and-a-half years, the complaint of the aggrieved parties is that the pollution caused by the unregulated handling of plastic continues to remain unabated.
The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by Mundka village resident Satish Kumar and Tikri-Kalan native Mahavir Singh alleging pollution caused by burning of plastic, leather, rubber, motor engine oil and other waste materials and continuous operation of illegal industrial units dealing with such articles on agricultural lands in Mundka and Neelwal villages.
The tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi chief secretary to co-ordinate with the concerned civic bodies, police authorities and other officers responsible for compliance of orders of this tribunal already passed reference to ensure compliance at the ground-level forthwith.It had further asked the chief secretary to hold a joint meeting with the persons considered responsible for compliance and till the orders are not complied with, continue to hold such meetings at least once a month."It will be open to the chief secretary to seek feedback from concerned inhabitants about the ground situation," the NGT had said.
GUIDELINES FOR FUNCTIONS IN PUBLIC PARKS
- Social and commercial functions in public parks in residential colonies in the national capital have come under the lens of the National Green Tribunal which has formed a committee to regulate such events
- The green panel said there was need to assess carrying capacity of the area to allow such events in respect of number of vehicles, generation and disposal of municipal solid waste, safety hazards, noise pollution, emergency response
- CPCB will give guidelines may be considered for entire Delhi, the NGT said
