T'gana govt prohibits open burning of waste on lands

The Telangana government has prohibited open burning of waste on lands with immediate effect and also imposed a fine for violation of the ban.

A Government Order (GO) to the effect in compliance of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) judgement in December last year was issued yesterday.

A fine of Rs 5,000 has been imposed for simple burning and Rs 25,000 for bulk waste burning, mentions the order.

"There shall be complete prohibition on open burning of waste on lands, including at landfill sites for each such incident or default, violators including project proponent, concessionaire, urban local bodies, any person or body responsible for such burning, environmental compensation shall be levied Rs 5,000 for simple burning and Rs 25,000 for bulk waste burning," the order issued yesterday said.
 

The concerned urban local body or gram panchayat is the competent authority for levy of 'environmental compensation' for open waste burning, it said.

"The Telangana State Pollution Control Board is the competent authority for levying environmental compensation for open waste burning done by urban local bodies/ gram panchayats," the order said.

The 'environmental compensation' shall be utilised for creating awareness among general public on environmental issues and open burning of waste, it said.

The local authorities and village panchayats shall establish waste to energy processes including Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) for combustible fraction of waste or supply as feed stock to solid waste based power plants to thermal power plants and cement plants, it said.

The order also said the power generation plant and cement plants in Telangana shall buy and use RDF as fuel in their respective plants, wherever RDF plant is located within 100 km radius.

Meanwhile, the state government also proposed a "complete ban on usage of short life PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and chlorinated plastics."

It has issued a draft notification for the purpose and it will be taken into consideration subsequently after suggestions or complaints are received from public.