The order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Nagar Palika Parishad, Vrindavan & Others Vs Madhumangal Shukla & Others dated 31/07/2020. The issue for consideration is the remedial action against unregulated dumping of solid waste in the flood plains of Yamuna and scientific clearing of the legacy waste site of Vrindavan, in accordance with the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The Monitoring Committee/Oversight Committee (OC) headed by Justice S. K. Singh filed its report on July 23, 2020. The NGT noted that the steps taken so far to address the situation was not adequate. The OC had found that arrangement for leachate collection had not been made, leachate drain was found choked, processing capacity was just enough to cater to the day to day processing and was unable to tackle the legacy waste. The OC recommended that bio waste remediation should start failing which compensation should be liable to be paid. Decentralized waste management plants, organic waste to compost plants, material recovery plants, use of bio-degradable cutlery should be accepted and followed by the state authorities.

The court warned that failure to implement the directions would lead to imposition of compensation for damage to the environment and public health against the state of Uttar Pradesh. The Urban Development Department in its reprt of July 30, 2020 informed the Tribunal that action was taken against a sanitary inspector and an executive officer. Action was also taken against the Chairman of Urban Local Body. The NGT was of the opinion that such action was hardly enough. The NGT asked the OC to monitor the compliance of directions for scientific waste management and furnish a status report by December 31, 2020.