NGT notice to UP on waste burning at Kaushambi

The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and its civic bodies after a plea alleged indiscriminate burning of municipal solid waste at Kaushambi area of Uttar Pradesh, despite a ban in force.

A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim sought responses from the UP government, UP Pollution Control Board, Nagar Nigam Ghaziabad and others on the issue before May 3.

The order came after advocate Sanjay Upadhyay mentioned the matter before the green panel and said that huge stretches of dry grass was put on fire at Kaushambi near the Anand Vihar Metro station recently.

The lawyer, appearing for Vardhaman Kaushik who has filed a petition against deteriorating air quality in Delhi and NCR, submitted several photographs showing burning of waste at several places.

He said that despite various orders passed by NGT and the undertakings given by the authorities, there was indiscriminate dumping and burning of municipal solid waste at various places.

Imposing a complete ban on burning of waste in open including garbage, leaves, plastic and crop residues, the NGT had earlier said violators will be fined Rs. 5,000.

The green panel had made it clear that its orders are to be complied with as a decree order of a civil court and all authorities including the police were duty bound to implement them.

On burning of plastic and similar products, the bench had issued directions to corporations and police authorities that "in no event they would permit burning of plastic or byproduct in any part of NCR-Delhi.