NGT directs Gujarat to deposit 75 cr to clear waste in Ahmedabad landfill

Noting that the Pirana landfill in Ahmedabad was a huge source of air pollution, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Gujarat government to deposit Rs 75 crore in an escrow account for clearing the waste at the site.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said the situation was far from satisfactory as depicted in a report and serious action was required immediately.

"In view of clear and patent damage to public health, the issue of clearing the legacy waste at Pirana must be attended to preferably within two weeks and the work to clear the garbage may commence preferably within one month," the bench said.

The court said after removing the garbage from the entire or part of the land, the state might consider using part of the recovered land for integrated waste processing. It suggested that the land can be used for treatment, storage and disposal facility for hazardous waste, and have a bio-diversity park on the periphery to improve the air quality and ambience."