Himalaya Environment and Employment Cooperative Society ltd president Ashok Thapliyal has submitted a memorandum to Pauri District Magistrate regarding the violation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) rules and order of the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi passed during the final hearing of the society's petition to the Pauri Municipal Council on Wednesday.
The National Green Tribunal Principal Bench, New Delhi had permitted Pauri Municipal Council to use the site as specified in the tribunal for dumping and disposing MSW two months ago on a temporary basis, but the civic body has not yet made any progress in the construction of the dumping ground at the proposed site.
This resulted in garbage and waste products being thrown in the forest, surrounding the district headquarter Pauri, and are being burnt in different parts of the town, which is harmful for human life as well as for the environment.
NGT had directed that the collecting, dumping and disposing the waste at this site should be strictly in accordance with the MSW rules and had said that the applicant would be free to move the Tribunal either by filling fresh petition or reviving this petition in the event the direction is not carried out by the State authorities. Thapliyal requested the district administration to take necessary action for dumping garbage in the site as approved by NGT immediately. Otherwise they will be forced to move the matter to the NGT, he warned.
Thapliyal told The Pioneer that the respondent State Government counsel said that they are proposing the site at Khasra No. 3681 in Patti Nadulsyun within municipal limits of Nagar Palika Parishad Pauri and measuring about 1200 sq meters for the purpose. This will be developed as a permanent site for dumping and disposing MSW or any other site which may become available to administration in the near future.Keeping this proposal in view, the tribunal gave permission to the civic board to use the site as a temporary place for dumping and disposing MSW.
The NGT finally disposed of the writ petition and gave the applicant freedom to move petition in case the direction of NGT is not carried out by the State authorities.The NGT has given the permission to use the proposed site for dumping and disposing MSW with certain conditions under MSW rules 2000.
The authorities will ensure that the MSW collected on daily basis is properly dumped in the pits within a period of two days from its transportation to the site. The transportation shall be done through proper vehicles duly covered while ensuring that they do not cause any environment hazard as result of spillage during the transportation.