Traffic snarl in Kaushambi: NGT slaps Rs 5L fine on govt

Taking strong note of traffic chaos and air pollution near the Kaushambi Bus Terminal on the Delhi border, the National Green Tribunal today imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on the public authorities in Ghaziabad for "failing to discharge their statutory duties."
The green panel passed the order after going through an inspection report, submitted by a committee constituted by it, which said that there was high air pollution in the area besides reckless dumping of waste, burning of garbage, traffic congestion and unregulated parking on the road.
"The committee has submitted its report. They have monitored the ambient air quality and particulate matters (PM10 and PM 2.5) have been found to be much in excess than the prescribed limits.

"Photographs submitted show indiscriminate dumping of waste on the road, burning of garbage, traffic congestion, unregulated parking on the road and the drains full of muck.
"This clearly shows that the public authorities, police, nagar nigam and the UP Pollution Control Board have failed to discharge their statutory and public duties. They are negligent in their approach and have caused degradation of environment," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The tribunal directed all the public authorities, police, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam and UPPCB to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 5 lakh, which would be equally shared by all public authorities, to the Central Pollution Control Board.

It also issued notice to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for flouting environment norms in carrying out construction work near Anand Vihar ISBT and Kaushambi area.
The green panel was hearing a petition filed by Kaushambi Apartments Residents Welfare Association (KARWA) which had contended that the presence of two bus terminus (Anand Vihar and Kaushambi bus terminal) within 200 metres of each other has aggravated air pollution in the area.
The Tribunal had earlier constituted a committee comprising officials from Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Uttar Pollution Control Board and ordered them to submit an inspection report.