NGT slap fines on seven housing societies

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped fines on seven housing societies in the national capital for generating waste in large quantity and not complying with the solid waste management rules.

The green panel imposed environment compensation of Rs 10,000 on the societies after their lawyers contended that their houses were constructed long ago and they were complying with all environmental measures subject to their limitations.

“Each of the societies shall pay environmental compensation of Rs 10,000 to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee within two weeks and would carry out all compliance in relation to environmental laws and install anti-pollution devices within six months,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar.  The societies are Jawaharlal Nehru Cooperative Group Housing Society Ltd, Jhang Cooperative Group Housing Ltd, Delhi Citizen Society, Neelkanth Apartments, Bharat Apartments, Printers Apartment and the Police Colony.

“The directions issued by joint inspection team shall also be complied with. These societies shall take steps for collecting waste and ensure its carriage to the identified dumping site,” it said. The counsel appearing for Jawaharlal Nehru Society said these housing societies were financially weak and hence only a token amount of environmental compensation should be imposed on them for the deficiencies pointed out by the inspecting team.

The NGT order came after it perused an interim report submitted by a committee set up by it which recommended action against defaulting bodies for improper management and treatment of sewage and lack of mechanism to recycle waste.

It had directed the committee to inspect all five-star hotels, hospitals which have more than 200 beds, cooperative group housing societies with over 300 flats, markets, shopping malls with built up area of over 50,000 sq mts, colleges having hostel accommodating more than 500 students in Delhi.