Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of "Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016" dated 16/01/2019 regarding compliance of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in continuation of orders earlier passed on the subject.

NGT made it clear that the rule of law has to be upheld and the State is liable to pay compensation for its failure to perform duties in upholding environmental norms and can also be held liable for paying damages which may be recovered from the polluters and the erring officers. The order also said that the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle can be applied by every regulatory authority and compensation can be and must be recovered from every polluter and the amount which is to be recovered spent for the restoration of the environment and compensation for damage to the environment will be payable by each of the States/ UTs at the rate of Rs. One Crore per month for each of the Priority- I and Priority- II stretches, Rs. 50 lacs per month for stretches in Priority- III and Rs. 25 lacs per month each for Priority- IV and Priority- V stretches. The Chief Secretaries would monitor the matters and submit the reports of compliance and immediate future plans before NGT.