New Delhi: The Punjab government was fined more than Rs 2,000 crore by the National Green Tribunal for failing to remove solid and liquid waste, which caused a significant lag between their generation and treatment.
Corrective action cannot be postponed indefinitely, and health issues cannot be put off for too long, according to a bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel.
The bench said that if there is a deficit in budgetary allotments, it is the state’s responsibility alone to have adequate planning by cutting costs or increasing resources.
According to the NGT, waste management regulations compliance must be given top importance.
The NGT calculated the total compensation to be Rs 2,180 crore.
For failing to stop the outflow of untreated sewage and solid garbage, the Punjab government has already paid the tribunal Rs 100 crore.
The State of Punjab may deposit the remaining sum of Rs 2,080 crore in a different ring-fenced account within two months, the bench ruled.
State and Union territory compliance with the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, as well as other environmental challenges, is being monitored by NGT.
