Any individual spotted throwing waste or muck in the Aravalli forest would now have to pay a penalty of Rs 5000, the National Green Tribunal has said while slamming authorities over reckless dumping of industrial waste and construction debris in the green area.
"Every person who is found to be throwing muck or waste in that area, the respondents authorities are at liberty to seize the vehicles and impose cost of Rs 5000 as environmental compensation for each of such violations as it will be an apparent violation of our order dated January 22, 2016.
"There will be proper check points at the beginning of the roads and entering towards the Aravalli hills. Let the compliance status report be submitted before the next date of hearing," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swantanter Kumar said.
It also directed the Police Commissioners of Gurgaon and Faridabad to ensure that the directions issued by NGT are fully complied and posted the matter for hearing on July 13.
During the hearing, the counsels appearing for different parties assured the tribunal that that they would take immediate steps to ensure that no muck or other waste is thrown in the forest area of Aravalli hills.
The counsels also said that the departments concerned would appoint teams which will keep vigil in the area.
On January 22, the tribunal had restrained Haryana Urban Development Authority and Gurgaon Municipal Corporation from dumping waste in the Aravalli forest and issued them notice to show cause why environmental compensation be not imposed on them.
The green panel's order came on the plea filed by environmentalist Vivek Kamboj, who had alleged that municipal corporations of Gurgaon and Faridabad were disposing of industrial waste and construction debris in forest areas on the Gurgaon-Faridabad road.
He had also filed photographs showing that tractors which are involved in dumping of waste, belong to HUDA and municipal corporation of Gurgaon.
Kamboj had referred to a newspaper report which said that construction debris was found being dumped in forest area and quoted a resident there who states that lots of vehicles dump waste in forest area on every Sunday morning.
