NGT directs Mohali MC to acquire land within a year

Our Correspondent

Mohali, January 19

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi, has directed the Municipal Corporation here to complete land acquisition for the Samgauli garbage dumping site within a year and has also made it liable to collect garbage from all industrial areas of Mohali.

The judgment, pronounced on January 13 with Justice Swatanter Kumar as Chairperson of the Principal Bench, was on an application by the Mohali Industry and Commerce Association.

The association had filed an application under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, against the pollution and environmental degradation caused by illegal dumping of industrial and municipal solid waste (MSW) by the civic body in the Patiala ki Rao and in surrounding areas.

Serious environment and health hazards were apprehended and there was a constant fear of epidemic during rainy season, apart from stink emanating from the illegal dumping ground.

The prayer was that the corporation be directed to stop illegal dumping of Mohali’s industrial, municipal, medical and toxic waste and garbage in Patiala ki Rao and the surrounding areas. Further, they shall also be directed to clean and remove all illegal dumping at the site.

After consideration of various aspects of the case, the NGT directed the corporation and all other authorities concerned to ensure completion of land acquisition proceedings at the earliest and in any case, not later than one year. This land was being exclusively acquired for establishment of the MSW plant under the Model MSW Management Plan, 2014, as this plant would fall under one of the eight clusters in which Punjab has been divided by the authorities.

The NGT ordered that the MSW plant be made operational by January 2017.