NGT raps Vrindavan authorities, appoints local commissioner

The indiscriminate dumping and burning of municipal solid waste in the temple town of Vrindavan has come under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal which has appointed a local commissioner to investigate the issue.
The green panel directed an advocate to visit the site in the Uttar Pradesh town and submit a comprehensive report on collection, dumping, transportation and burning of municipal solid waste.
"The photographs shown do not depict the proper state of affairs, on the contrary even if the some of the photographs shown to the Tribunal are correct, then it will not only be a problem simplicitor of waste burning but would also be of serious repercussions in relation to human health. It is necessary for the Tribunal to have the correct facts before it can proceed to decide the matter on merits.

"Consequently, we appoint advocate Rahul Khurana as Local Commissioner who shall visit the site in question as well as take a general round of Vrindavan city and submit a comprehensive report...To the Tribunal," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said while listing the matter for next hearing on April 7.
The directions came while hearing of a plea by seer Madhumangal Shukla who had approached NGT against "illegal" and "unregulated" disposal of solid waste in the city.
During the hearing, advocate Rahul Choudhary, appearing for Shukla, submitted photographs showing reckless dumping and burning of municipal waste in the city.

The counsel appearing for the Vrindavan Palika Parishad, however, refuted the claim and said it was a "mischief" by somebody. He also assured the tribunal that the Palika was taking requisite steps in this regard.

The NGT had earlier restrained the Vrindavan municipal corporation from burning domestic waste in the open and issued notices to the Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others while seeking their reply.
Shukla had alleged that entire environment of Vrindavan was suffering due to the lack of implementation of Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 as garbage was being disposed of carelessly in drains and on the banks of river Yamuna, leading to clogging and stagnation.

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 the streets.