The National Green Tribunal today rapped Uttar Pradesh government and the civic authorities for not submitting a complete action plan on collection and disposal of municipal solid waste in Gorakhpur district of the state.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar came down heavily on the Gorakhpur municipal corporation and directed the state Chief Secretary to hold a meeting with the concerned authorities on the issue at the earliest.
"Do you know what kind of discharge you are releasing in the river Rapti? How are you going to prevent this discharge? We had asked you to submit an action plan. Where is the action plan? Do you have a dumping site? Is there any MSW plant in the entire district," the bench asked.
During the hearing, municipal commisioner of Gorakhpur, who appeared in pursuance to Tribunal's order, sought more time to submit a comprehensive action plan.
"The municipal commissioner states that he would take a meeting and provide answer and action plan in furtherance to the orders of the Tribunal. We direct the Chief Secretary to hold the meeting under his aegis and the commissioner shall personally file a complete detailed report to apprise the Tribunal of the steps taken," the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on October 8.
With regard to grant of Rs 4,000 crore by the Centre, the state government said this amount was meant for treatment of Japanese Encephalitis patients in the entire state and not meant for Gorakhpur only.
The bench on August 14 had directed Gorakhpur Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Gorakhpur and Vice-Chairman of Gorakhpur Development Authority to personally appear before it with complete records.
Today when they sought exemption from appearance, the bench refused to grant them relief and said, "everyone has to be present here. Till the time they comply with the orders of the Tribunal, they will keep coming here."
Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation had informed the bench that the district generates 598 metric tons of municipal waste daily and discharges 66.395 MLD of sewage directly into river Rapti, which is a tributary of Ganga.
It had also said there were two sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the district to treat the waste before they are released in the river.
