A Hindu seer from Vrindavan Madhumangal Shukla approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday against illegal and unregulated disposal of municipal solid waste in the city.
The seer stated in his petition that the entire environment of the temple town has been vitiated due to open flouting of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. As a result, garbage is disposed carelessly in drains and on the banks of river Yamuna leading to clogging and stagnation of river water.
Yamuna in Vrindavan especially at Tatiya Sthan, Kalidaha, Shringarvat, etc. are being constantly polluted by dumping and disposing of huge amounts of municipal solid wastes into the river. “The situation has reached such an alarming state, that in many instances the river has been pushed as far as 300-400 m away from the ghats and the illegal construction in the flood plain area has only worsened the crisis,” the plea stated. It had been filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary.
Shukla alleged that the situation in Vrindavan, with a heritage of 5,000 temples and visitors from across is deteriorating further due to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities.
The plea claimed that the only landfill site in the city has been sold to Mathura Mandi Samiti for setting up of a wholesale market. This has led to “reckless accumulation of garbage on streets.”
The plea further stated , “Direct the Municipal Corporation along with the District Magistrate and the Divisional Commissioner, to submit a status report of their compliance to the provisions of the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.”
The green bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others. They have been asked to reply by May 25.