Following a plea seeking directions to stop dumping of municipal solid waste at a park in Ghaziabad, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a joint committee to look into the issue.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel directed a joint committee comprising officials from the Ghaziabad Development Authority, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, District Magistrate of Ghaziabad and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, to “take stock of the situation and decide the further course of action.”
Plea against market
The directions came while the green panel was hearing a plea that also sought direction against the development of a vendors’ market in Kali Bari Park in Sector 4 at Vaishaliaishali.
The plea stated that Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has commenced work to develop market in the park through a private contractor which will result in reducing the green cover.
“Case of the applicant is that the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has commenced work to develop market in the park through a private contractor that will result in reducing the green cover. This in turn will add to the air pollution. The Nagar Nigam is also using the park for unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste in violation of rules,” the Bench observed.
“We direct that a joint committee...be constituted and may hold a meeting within one month to take stock of the situation and to decide further course of action in accordance with the law.
“The Ghaziabad Development Authority will be the nodal agency and will be accountable for compliance of the order of this tribunal,” the bench said.
The tribunal said the order of the NGT is binding as a decree of court and non-compliance is actionable by way of punitive action including prosecution, in terms of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
Authorities have been asked to submit the action taken report by October 31.
