NGT notices to 1,400 pollution defaulters

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday issued notice to over 1,400 defaulters who have not paid environmental compensation for violating its order on waste burning and dust pollution, on a plea filed by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

The NGT also directed the defaulters to appear before it on January 30. Pulling up the residents of affluent colonies for violating environmental norms, the court said the guards of these places burn garbage in winters to keep themselves warm.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar also issued notice to the sub-divisional magistrate concerned of the district to explain why the tribunal’s order on recovery of environmental compensation (EC) from the defaulters was not implemented.

It noted that the EDMC has said in its plea that there were 336 defaulters for burning waste and 1,082 defaulters for causing dust pollution who have not paid the challan amount. “Notice be issued to all the parties and be served by the corporation. The defaulters are directed to appear before the tribunal on the next date of hearing, January 30. Notice be issued to the SDM of the district to explain why the order of the tribunal was not implemented for recovery of EC,” the bench said.

EDMC advocate Balendu Shekhar said challans were issued against defaulters in compliance of the tribunal’s order and several of them have not paid the amount.

He said in view of the green panel’s April 28, 2015, order, any person found burning in open any kind of garbage leaves, waste plastic, rubber, self-moulding compound or any other such material, he or she would be liable to pay Rs 5,000 compensation under the National Green Tribunal Act for polluting the environment. “There are two zones — Shahdara (north) and Shahdara (south) in EDMC. As on date, a total of 520 challans have been issued on account of waste burning, out of which Rs 9,96,100 has been collected,” the application said.

The green panel observed that it was “surprising” that in posh colonies of South Delhi, residents engage guards for their own convenience but they give a shed to the security personnel who then burn garbage there itself to keep themselves warm in winter.