Waste dumping at wetland: NGT seeks reply from state

New Delhi, May 7

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Haryana Government to respond to a plea against the alleged dumping of waste at a construction and demolition waste-recycling plant that is being built in the catchment area of Basai wetland in Gurugram.

A Bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore issued notices to the state government and the project proponent of the under construction site, and asked them to file replies before May 11.

“The counsel for the respondent state as well as the project proponent pray for short time to file reply. They may do so by the next date of hearing,” the Bench said.

According to the plea filed by NGO Delhi Bird Foundation, the project proponent has the environmental clearance for the plant, but it lacks approvals from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) as per the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.

Advocates Ritwick Dutta and Rahul Choudhary, appearing for the NGO, sought an immediate stay on the dumping of waste at the site, citing environmental concerns.

The Bench, however, sought the reply of the state and the project proponent on the matter.

The NGT had, in January, lifted its stay on the construction of a waste-treatment plant in the catchment area of Basai wetland after perusing the revenue records and noting that the land in question had not been identified as a wetland by the state government.

The order had come after the project proponent assured the Bench it would not carry out construction on the site without obtaining the consent from the HSPCB.

The project proponent had given an undertaking that it would not set up any machinery or equipment to run the construction without an authorisation from the pollution board.

The tribunal had, in July last year, ordered status quo after noting that the plant had an adverse impact on the water body.

The green panel had earlier said the applicant had made out a prima facie case for directing preservation of land in question till further order of this tribunal in this regard.

The petitioner NGO had sought a stay on the project, contending that Basai wetland, though not declared as a wetland under the 2010 Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, was a valuable water body.

“The construction and debris plant which is under process of establishment shall have an adverse impact on the water body due to various activities connected with the plant,” the plea had said. — PTI

File reply by May 11: Tribunal

• The NGT issued notices to the state government and the project proponent of a waste-recycling plant, and asked them to file replies before May 11
• According to a plea filed by NGO Delhi Bird Foundation, the project proponent has the environmental clearance for the plant, but it lacks approvals from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board 
• The counsels for the NGO sought an immediate stay on the dumping of waste at the site, citing environmental concerns.