West Bengal fined Rs 3,500 Crore For Gap In Waste Management.
The NGT (National Green Tribunal) has imposed a penalty of Rs 3,500 crore on the West Bengal government for the huge huge gap in Waste Management. West Bengal government is not prioritising setting up for sewage and solid waste management facilities.
According to the state’s budget for 2022-2023, there is provision of Rs 12,818.99 crore on Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.Observing that health issues cannot be deferred to the long future, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice, A K Goel said it is the constitutional responsibility of the state and the local bodies to provide a pollution free environment.The NGT noted that out of 2,758 million litres per day of sewage generation in urban areas and the treatment capacity of 1,505.85 MLD (by setting up 44 STLs) only 1,268 MLD is reported to be treated, leaving a huge gap of 1,490 MLD.While there may be no objection to any central funds being availed, the state cannot avoid its responsibility or delay its discharge on that pretext, it said.
“Considering damage to the recipient environment, we hold that apart from ensuring compliance at the earliest, compensation has to be paid by the state for past violations. The amount neede to be deposited by the state of West Bengal in a separate ring -fenced account within two months bench said.If violations continue, liability to pay additional compensation may have to be considered, it added. NGT said that ‘segregation of the waste and processing it earliest at the defined destination is imperative.’West Bengal government cannot use lack of funds as an excuse to deprive the citizens of their basic human rights: NGT Tribunal has come across cases of serious neglect and continuing damage to the environment in absence of inadequate steps for treatment of solid and liquid waste.”
Government should look after all this problems and take some preventive measures against this.“We are of the view that issues have been identified and monitored by the tribunal for a long time. It is high time that the state realises its duty to the law and to citizens and adopts further monitoring at its own level,” the bench said.
