How NGT Is Working To Make Your City A Better Place

Corrective measures are being implemented across the country to make India a cleaner place. Among the many agencies which are busy ensuring our cities become cleaner is the National Green Tribunal (NGT). We examine certain recent orders by the NGT. These directives would go a long way in improving the overall livability of our cities if implemented efficiently.

The massive action in Delhi

India's national capital is among the most polluted cities in the world, and the task of bringing the levels down is nothing but ginormous. A recent NGT order could prove to be a good start in this regard. The green tribunal has come down heavily on hospitality majors, which have failed to meet solid waste management norms. While directing the Delhi government to submit with it a list of mass solid waste generators in the national capital, the NGT set up a panel to assess the situation and suggest action against defaulters. Working on the directive, the panel inspected all five-star hotels, hospitals with over 200 beds, co-operative housing societies with over 300 units, malls spread in an area of over 50,000 square metres, hostels providing accommodation to over 500 students and markets. After an interim report was submitted by the panel, the NGT imposed heavy fines on defaulters.

A penalty of Rs 3 lakh each has been imposed on Hotel Leela Venture, Fraser Suites, Royal Plaza and Mahagun Hotels while a fine of Rs 2 lakh each has been slapped on on Radiance Motel and Golden Petal Hotel and Banquet. A penalty of Rs 2.50 lakh has been slapped on on Park Inn. The hotels have also been directed to install sewage treatment plants within four weeks and ensure these devices function properly. The NGT has also directed authorities to snap power and water connection of a housing society in case it failed to appear before the tribunal. The Ekta Society has been ignoring notices by the NGT.

The tribunal has earlier imposed a penalty of Rs 7 lakh each on Taj Palace, Taj Vivanta hotels and Zorba Entertainment, Rs 5 lakh each on Crown Plaza (Mayur Vihar), The Lalit and Hotel Metropolitan, Rs 3 lakh each on Holiday Inn and Rs 2.50 lakh on G K Motel.

The NGT has also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on Lady Hardinge Medical College and Indira Gandhi ESI, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospitals for not complying with solid waste management norms.

The green tribunal has also asked the Delhi government and other government agencies, including the Delhi Development Authority, to submit before August 29 a status report on whether government buildings, bridges and flyovers in the national capital have installed rainwater harvesting systems.

Lake trouble in Garden City

Which homebuyer would not like to have a lake close to their property? However, if the lake in question is the Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru, this buyer would think a thousand times before investing in a project in proximity with the water body. This would not be the first time carcinogenic — foam  something that has the potential to cause cancer — has been floating over the Bellandur Lake. The matters worsened this time when the monsoon rains caused the poisonous water to float on the streets of the adjoining areas.

The NGT has already directed authorities to close down 76 polluting industries around the lake. The recent development has led to the NGT summoning top officials in the Karnataka government to ask them what measures have they implemented to handle the situation. 

"They shall inform the tribunal as to what steps has been taken by them to comply with the directions issued to them from time to time, particularly in relation to Bellandur lake and Rajakaluves (storm water drain), etc.," the Bench said.

Saving Ghaziabad's Arthala Lake

Reportedly, authorities failed to take any action on residents' complaints about a hospital and a distillery discharging untreated waste in Ghaziabad's Arthala Lake. This led non-governmental organisation SPENBIO approach the green tribunal.

"The encroachments, illegal constructions and unauthorised occupation on Arthala lake are resulting in environmental degradation and causing hazard to public health," the NGO submitted.

Passing an order on the matter, the NGT has directed authorities in the city, including the Ghaziabad Development Authority, to take action against the polluting parties, and restore the lake's natural disposition. The NGT will again be hearing the matter on September 14.

The dumping ground in Noida

Noida generates about 700 metric tonne of solid waste daily. In the absence of effective waste management mechanisms, certain streets in the city have turned into dumping grounds. Taking cognizance of a plea that alleged that dumping of municipal solid waste is polluting the city air, the NGT has issued notices to the Union Urban Development Ministry, the Uttar Pradesh government and the Noida Authority, asking them to submit their replies by September 14. A plea, filed by Noida resident Abhisht Kusum Gupta, said that the Noida Authority was dumping solid waste at Sector 138-140 on a regular basis.

 Also read: Are You Aware Of These Recent NGT Rulings In Delhi-NCR?