New Delhi: Taking a stern view of open defecation and waste dumping on the Yamuna floodplains, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday said that doing so will not attract a fine of Rs 5,000.
“We issue prohibitory orders in furtherance to the judgement dated January 13, 2015 that no waste of any kind and open defecation will be permitted around the water bodies and the floodplains of Yamuna river. Authorities, including the police, shall take stringent action against defaulting persons and every defaulter would be liable to pay an environment compensation of Rs 5,000 per incident,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The NGT constituted a committee headed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to the cleaning of Yamuna and construction of sewage treatment plant to treat liquid waste flowing into the river.
The panel, which also comprises chief engineer from Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and a representative from National Mission for Clean Ganga, has been asked to submit reports on regular intervals to the tribunal.
It directed that Delhi government and all the municipal corporations to start removal of municipal solid waste and dredging of drains under Phase-I of the “Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017.”
“The authorities are directed to submit methodology and formulate scheme to help in selective dredging of Yamuna to ensure that its deep-rooted pollutants are removed before completion of the Phase-I,” the bench said.
Manoj Misra, on whose petition the NGT has passed several directions, welcomed the order saying, “We are happy that NGT is continuously monitoring the Yamuna issue. The order issued by the bench shows its seriousness. But the implementing agencies have to show their will in execution of the directions.”
The bench said almost 67 per cent of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants (STPs) located at Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1.
