Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other environmental issues dated 18/10/2019.

The order was passed in pursuance of a NGT meeting on the subject of enforcement of orders of the Tribunal relating to solid waste and sewage management. The meeting took place as the grievance of non-compliance of orders was continuasally made on the excuse of time consuming DPRs and tendering process. Clean environment and implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission, and Namami Gange initiatives requiring proper management of solid and liquid waste was the subject of the meeting.

The general view of the participants was that standardization of technologies and cost breakup and identification of service providers and placing them on GeM Portal will go a long way in tackling the situation by curtailing the procedural delay. This requires coordination among the concerned authorities and clarifying the existing CVC guidelines, if necessary.

As per CPCB data, there are more than 4000 legacy waste dump sites which need immediate remediation under the binding rules and orders of this Tribunal having regard to harmful impacts on environment and public health. Besides, this will unlock the land occupied by such waste sites which is urgently required for setting up of integrated waste management and processing facilities/for afforestation/green belts/bio-diversity parks/buffer zones in accordance with environmental laws.

As suggested, necessary technologies need to be standardized with cost breakups for operation and maintenance, including procurement. Besides this, the service providers need to be identified and empaneled. This exercise may also require the concerned authorities to explore business models. For this purpose, the Tribunal directed constitution of a committee with headed by the nominee of Vice-Chairman of Niti Ayog who would be chairmand and coordinator. The committee has been directed to hold its first meeting within two weeks and take further action within a month and an action taken report furnished to the NGT within two months.