The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Kendrapada Municipality to deposit a sum of Rs 24 lakh for not adhering to solid waste management and polluting the local Gobari river without taking remedial measures.
One Rabeya Tabbasum had earlier moved the NGT alleging pollution of the Gobari river due to indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes and discharging untreated liquid waste in the water body. The NGT had directed to form a committee comprising, among others, Sub-Collector Niranjan Behera and the Regional SPCB Officer to inspect the polluted site and take action in accordance with law.
The committee conducted a field inspection in April this year and observed that there are certain lapses in solid and liquid wastes management. However, there was difference of opinion among the committee members in the matter of imposing environmental compensation.
The committee further observed that the municipality has not yet set up any facility for treatment of sewage water.
So, the NGT has directed municipality to deposit the compensation amount with the State Pollution Control Board within one month and file an affidavit of compliance by the next date of hearing scheduled on August 24.