New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken strict action against the Haryana government for causing continuous damage to the environment and directed the state government to deposit Rs 100 crore as environmental compensation.
The order was passed by a bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel. In its order, the NGT has also directed to constitute a nine-member committee, to be headed by the chairman of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
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NGT imposes environment compensation of Rs 100 cr on Haryana for green damages
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The NGT was hearing a case related to the landfill site located in Bandhwari, Gurugram. Garbage has been dumped here for years and there is about 33 lakh metric tonnes of solid waste.
The petition submitted that a waste management project has been developed and a contract was assigned to a Chinese company in the year 2017. The company has been burning the waste causing air pollution.
The pollution is not only affecting the inhabitants but also the Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary having 193 species of birds, a large number of medicinal plants and more than 80 species of butterflies, black buck, Golder Jackal, and leopards.
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The State is under the obligation to protect eco-sensitive zones by controlling the adverse impact of violation of the environmental norms, said the Green Court, reports news agency ANI.
In its order, the NGT said that the committee may evaluate the performance of the contractor engaged under the agreement reached in the matter and if it is found that the contractor has failed to perform as expected, the committee may consider a suitable alternative to replace the contractor.
While passing the direction, the NGT also said that in respect of emergency, the state authorities may exercise their jurisdiction to use the nearest available land in accordance with the applicable law for a temporary period on payment of user fee.
