Bhandewadi garbage mess: NGT imposes Rs 20 lakh fine each on NMG, contractor
SLAMMING Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for mismanagement of municipal solid waste, improper and unscientific operations at Bhandewadi dumping yard and totally unsatisfactory performance by operator - M/s Hanjer Biotech Energies in operating the Bhandewadi plant, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of Rs 20 lakh each on NMC and M/s Hanjer.
The tribunal also rapped NMC for discharging untreated sewage water into Gosikhurd and for not installing effluent treatment plant for slaughter house and thus violating the Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Rules, 2000.
NGT bench consisting Justice V R Kingaonkar and member Dr Ajay Deshpande also directed Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to probe within four weeks municipal solid waste (MSW) mismanagement and why the processing and treatment plant was underutilised after the fire incident and why penal action was not initiated against the contractor. NOT pulled up NMC for imposing a token fine of Rs 5.000 on the contractor who violated brazenly his contractual obligation to treat MSW and applying polluter pay formula, imposed Rs 40 lakh cost on NMC and die contractor.
NGT also directed Urban Development Secretary to review MSW management status in Nagpur city within four weeks and prepare a specific action plan and ensure iliac MSW processing plant is restored to its original capacity of 550 nit within four months, without fail.
NGT was hearing the petition filed by Deshpande Layout Jansamasya Niwarana Samiti, Suryanagar Welfare Society. East Wardhamana Nagar Sanskrutik Krida Manda). Wardhaman Nagar Sahakari Gruha Nirman Samiti and Wardhaman Nagar Sarvodaya Kendra. These five residential colonies ventilate their long-standing grievances regarding improper and unscientific operations at Bhandewadi Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumping yard complex resulting in serious air and water pollution, posing a serious health hazard to the large and dense population, residing in the vicinity of said plant. They charged the NMC and and its operator M/s Hanjer with inadequate machinery to process MSW in scientific manner, resulting in air pollution, foul smell emanates and residents have to tolerate unbearable odour which is affecting health of residents. Besides these operations arc leading to air. soil, water and land pollution. As against 800 mt MSW generated daily in the city, Bhandewadi had processing capacity to treat only 600 mi and this too was reduced in the tire in February 2014. The NMC also failed to create buffer zone or no development zone near Bhandewari. the petitioners claimed.
Town Planning Department sub-milled that 36.54 ha area is reserved for
Bhandewadi dumping yard and in the revised development plan some area is proposed for various zones like residential, agriculiure while some area is reserved for compost depot. NIT, in iis reply, asserted thai it had not sanctioned any layout under regularisation scheme within 500 mis buffer zone from the compost depot.
NMC. in iis affidavii. siaied thai Bhandewadi plant was located quite outside since four decades and was being used for dumping garbage, slaughter house and to operate
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