NGT panel suggests imposing penalty for jumping deadlines

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 4

The three-member National Green Tribunal (NGT) panel headed by Justice Pritam Pal has found faults with the district environment plans of Ambala and Kurukshetra and has recommended to impose environmental compensation for jumping deadlines.

The panel noted that the local bodies and other departments were following their own timelines for the laying of the sewerage system and irrigation network, completion of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and compliance of solid waste management rules while the NGT deadlines had already expired.

The other two members of the panel are Urvashi Gulati, former Haryana chief secretary; and technical expert Dr Babu Ram, former member secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

At present, no STP is working in Ambala Cantonment. The panel was informed that four STPs at 12 Cross Road, Khuda Khurd, Machonda and Babyal in Ambala Cantonment were under construction. Besides, there is a gap of 5 MLD STP, which is under preparation and will be completed by March 31, 2022. There is gap of 1 MLD STP in Naraingarh.

There is also no network for utilisation of treated sewage for which Justice Pritam Pal-led panel recommended for preparing irrigation schemes within two months. It also directed for completing sewerage network in all towns.

The panel noted that a representative of local body of Barara misled them as in a meeting in June, he mentioned that there was no legacy waste whereas in February, the quantity of the same was mentioned as 28,328 tonne.

Bio-remediation work of legacy waste is pending in all towns.