Former Lokayukta for fine on polluters

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 11

Justice Pritam Pal, former Lokayukta and chairman of a monitoring committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to check pollution, on Thursday directed the district authorities to take stringent step to check pollution.

He asked them to impose heavy fine on those causing pollution. He was chairing a meeting of officials on Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 at the mini-secretariat.

He said the rules had been introduced three years back for effective solid waste management, but action was taken in the last few months with proper monitoring.

He expressed concern over increasing water and air pollution. He referred to pollution as a dangerous sign for the future, for which necessary steps would have to be taken.

He directed the authorities to take action against the industrial units causing pollution. He asked social activists and members of NGOs to come forward in educating the people.

He said it was a good sign that the state was heading towards cleanliness and Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Jind, Gurugram, Faridabad and Panchkula were to be developed as model cities.

He appreciated the efforts of the Karnal authorities. He said Karnal had emerged as the cleanest city in the state in the last three years and efforts would be made so that it topped in the country.

He warned officials of action if they did not work with dedication. He directed officials to take immediate steps on complaints regarding housefly and waste due to poultry.

Justice Pritam Pal visited the solid waste management plant and appreciated the three-pond and five-pond system.

Deputy Commissioner Vinay Partap Singh said all seven civic bodies in the district were responsible for maintaining cleanliness in their respective areas.

He said gram panchayats had been given responsibility for proper solid waste management at the block level. Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Mehta spoke about steps to maintain cleanliness.