GURUGRAM: The
Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Saturday slapped a
notice on
MCG for allowing dumping of
plastic waste on the fringes of Basai wetland in violation of rules laid down by the Supreme Court.
The subdivisional magistrate (SDM), meanwhile, directed the land owner to clear within a day the huge mound of waste, located just a few metres from the construction and demolition waste treatment plant coming up in the area.
The HSPCB and the district administration swung into action after TOI carried a report exposing rampant dumping of used plastic bottles at the Basai wetland, where a birder spotted a black-necked stork with its beak stuck in a ring from a plastic bottle. According to local residents, a privately run plastic compressing and recycling unit has come up at the site recently.
Taking cognizance of illegal dumping of plastic waste, the state pollution board pulled up the corporation for not following the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016, and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. HSPCB also demanded immediate removal of the plastic waste from the wetland.
“A notice under provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules and Municipal Solid Waste Rules has been issued to the corporation. It is the responsibility of MCG to take action against such illegal disposal of waste. The notice also demands immediate action and removal of plastic waste from Basai,” said an HSPCB source.
According to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, every local body shall be responsible for development and setting up of infrastructure for storage, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste either on its own or by engaging agencies. Besides, it is illegal to dump or process any kind of plastic waste in Basai, which is notified as agricultural land. Therefore, the source said, MCG was clearly responsible for the illegal dumping of waste in the area.
Deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said the SDM had issued orders under Section 133 of the CrPC, directing the owner of the site to lift the plastic waste within a day. “In case the owner fails to abide by the order, MCG has been asked to lift the waste and collect the cost from the owner. Also, MCG and HSPCB have been asked to identify other such dumping sites where plastic waste is being disposed and clear them,” said Pratap.
Experts demanded the state government to take immediate action. “The state government should come forward immediately and take action in this case. The municipal corporation should take responsibility for quality of life, health and hygiene, and the environment. The authorities cannot pass the buck any more,” said Dipankar Saha, ex-additional director and head of the Central Pollution Control Board .
“Before setting up any kind of waste management plant, the authorities need to carry out an environmental impact assessment to ensure it does not impact the fauna of the area. We need to fix the responsibility and avoid any such incident in future,” said Dr. Shyamala Mani, professor, waste management and environmental health, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
Referring to the black-necked stork which is now unable to part its beak due to the plastic ring, Mani said, “It is extremely dangerous, the bird can even die of starvation now.”
When contacted, MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav said, “Somebody dumped used bottles in private land. I have instructed the staff to take action.”
