Despite the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding the disposal of garbage and waste products, the municipal council Pauri is doing nothing to address the issue. Six months ago when the order was issued many had thought that things would improve but nothing like this has happened with the authorities unable to stop dumping of waste in different parts of the district in the open.
The level of civic sanitation in Pauri town continues to deteriorate with the municipal waste being dumped haphazardly in the open. Himalaya Environment and Employment Cooperative Society ltd president Ashok Thapliyal has stressed that he will raise the issue again in the NGT for the violation of MSW rules and the order by the civic body in the final hearing of society’s petition.
The NGT Principal Bench, New Delhi had permitted Pauri municipal council to use a particular site as proposed in the tribunal by Uttarakhand state as a temporary dumping site around six months ago.
However, the municipal council Pauri has not done anything to construct the dumping ground on the earmarked site. Consequently, garbage and waste products are being indiscriminately dumped and burnt in the forest areas surrounding the district headquarters Pauri. “Such recklessness act can prove costly for the environment and health of the people,” said Thapliyal.
The NGT had directed that the collection, dumping and disposal of the waste at this site should be strictly done in accordance with the MSW rules. Also it had announced that in case of failure, the applicant would be free to move the Tribunal either by filling fresh petition or reviving the old petition.
Requesting the district administration to take necessary steps to dump garbage in the approved site, Thapliyal said, “If they fail to comply with the order then we would have to take the matter to the NGT.”