NGT points out several shortcomings in waste management in Gujarat, Odisha
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), while assessing the waste management status of states and union territories, has pointed out several shortcomings in Gujarat and Odisha. After analyzing the progress reports submitted by the two countries, the NGT mentioned many shortcomings in the measures taken by the two countries. Last year, a court imposed an environmental fine of Rs 2,100 crore on Gujarat for waste management deficiencies.
NGT chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava, judicial member Justice Sudhir Kumar Aggarwal and expert A Senthil Vel listed out some flaws in the reports submitted by the two states. Both the states have submitted separate progress reports detailing the steps taken to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives on solid waste management rules and installation of adequate sewage treatment plants (STPs).
Gujarat’s daily waste management gap is 8,872 tonnes
Last year, the tribunal had imposed environmental penalties (EC) on states for shortcomings in waste management. This amount will be held in a closed account. A segregated account is a bank account in which part of a person’s or institution’s financial assets are kept separate from the rest. Its purpose is to reserve funds for specific purposes, reduce a person’s or company’s tax burden and prevent losses.
The NGT imposed an environmental fine of Rs 2,100 crore on Gujarat. Meanwhile, the Odisha government issued an affidavit stating that it would allocate Rs 1,138 crore to overcome the deficiencies. NGT postpones plans to fine the state. Regarding solid waste management in Gujarat, the committee said, “The gap observed in waste disposal is almost at the same level as stated earlier.” This is because there are not enough facilities to handle the entire waste generated in the state.
He said, “Currently, Gujarat generates an estimated 10,317 tonnes of waste per day while the available treatment facilities are only 1,445 tonnes. This means there is a difference of 8,872 tonnes in waste generation and treatment per day. The committee said that seven Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) ) 124,000 tons of old waste (LMT) have not yet been disposed of.
Odisha sewerage management gap reaches 146.90 MLD
The NGT said there is a gap of 531 million liters per day (MLD) in wastewater management in Gujarat. Regarding the environmental penalty amount, the tribunal said, “Details of the ring-fenced accounts have not been disclosed.” The next report should also mention the funds allocated to each ULB to bridge the gap in sewage and solid waste management.
NGT said there is a gap of 146.90 MLD in wastewater management in Odisha. He said: “The utilization rate of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur and Rourkela is not satisfactory. Immediate action is needed to ensure that the STP capacity of these cities is utilized Take full advantage. The tribunal said that around 26.58 lakh tonnes of old waste has not been disposed of in 33 ULBs in the state.
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She also said there had been no proper explanation of the specific details of how the environmental fine amounts were transferred to the segregated account. The NGT asked the two states to provide latest status reports. Furthermore, taking into account reports from Odisha and Gujarat, the dates have been fixed as April 28 and July 22 next year respectively.
