A Hindu seer from the temple town of Vrindavan today approached the National Green Tribunal against "illegal" and "unregulated" disposal of municipal solid waste in the city.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others while seeking their reply by May 25.
In his petition, Madhumangal Shukla said that the entire environment of Vrindavan is suffering due to the lack of implementation of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 as the garbage is disposed carelessly in drains and on the banks of river Yamuna leading to clogging and stagnation.
"Yamuna in Vrindavan is being constantly tampered with by dumping and disposing of huge amounts of municipal solid wastes into the river, including Tatiya Sthan, Kalidaha, Shringarvat, etc.
"The situation has reached such an alarming state, that in many instances the river has been pushed as far as 300-400 m away from the ghats and the illegal construction in the flood plain area has only worsened the crisis," the plea, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, said.
Shukla has alleged that Vrindavan, which hosts over 5,000 temples, is being exposed to constant environmental deterioration due to the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities.
The plea claimed that the only landfill site in the city has been sold to Mathura Mandi Samiti for setting up of a wholesale market resulting in reckless accumulation of garbage on streets.
"Direct the Municipal Corporation along with the District Magistrate and the Divisional Commissioner, to submit a status report of their compliance to the provisions of the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000," the plea said.
