NGT slaps notice on PMC

NGT slaps notice on PMC

Pune: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner as to why Rs two crore fine should not be imposed for failing to submit an action plan for disposing legacy waste of 2.5 MT at Uruli Devachi. 

A Bench of Justice SP Wangdi and Expert Member Nagin Nanda issued the notice on July 11, during the last hearing. The tribunal is hearing a petition filed by Bhagwan Bhadale, Vijay Bhadale, Gram Panchayat Uruli Devachi, filed through lawyer Asim Sarode.

“The fact that no action plan has been filed before us in terms of the order passed on November 18, 2017, which was recorded on the submissions made on behalf of the PMC amounts to gross violation of the order. We direct the Municipal Commissioner, PMC to show cause as to why action under Section 26 read with Section 28 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 should not be instituted against them having failed to comply with the order of the Tribunal and why penalty of Rs 2 crore should not be imposed upon them. The show cause shall be filed without fail within seven (7) days,” the NGT order states. 

As per order dated November 15, 2017, the PMC was directed to file copies of the action plan to deal with the legacy waste, which was estimated at 2.5 lakh MT at the site. 

“The November 18, 2017 order would reveal that deliberation had taken place, where the corporation had placed its text of presentation demonstrating separate status of solid waste composts generated within limits of the PMC, status of waste processing and the facts concerning Uruli Devachi and Fursungi villages waste disposal sites. After elaborate discussions on various aspects in the meeting, it was submitted on behalf of the corporation that it would come up with an action plan to handle the mixed waste at the sites on a reducing scale to put an end to the incoming waste within a time frame. It was specifically undertaken that the action plan will be furnished before the Tribunal on or before December 15, 2017, and copies would be furnished to the MPCB as well as the other contending parties,” the order reads.

During the hearing on July 11, P Narayan, the counsel appearing for PMC submitted that the action plan has not been filed. Suresh Jagtap, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, PMC, submitted, “The corporation has submitted the estimates for the works to the Estimate Committee on June 19, 2018, approval for which is awaited.”

When contacted, Jagtap, who is head of the Solid Waste Management Department of PMC, said, “ NGT sent a show cause notice to the corporation. We have filed a reply to notice.” 

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