SC relief for BMC in Rs 5 crore fine and Rs 100 crore bank guarantee cases
Richa Pinto | tnn | Jan 9, 2019, 03:29 IST
MUMBAI: The Supreme Court has stayed two National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders that imposed a Rs 5-crore fine on BMC for not complying with waste disposal rules at Deonar dumping ground, and another directing it to furnish a Rs 100-crore bank guarantee.
NGT, on October 30 last year, had directed BMC to pay a compensation of Rs 5 crore for damaging the environment, by not complying with solid waste management rules, 2016. Of 7,500-plus metric tons of garbage generated in the city daily, around 3,500 is taken to the city’s oldest dumping ground at Deonar.
An inspection by officials of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Mumbai Pollution Control Board (MPCB), district collector and BMC representatives in September 2018 found waste being dumped haphazardly at Deonar landfill.
BMC had filed a review application before NGT against the fine. NGT, dismissing the review application last December, directed the civic body to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 100 crore.
On Monday, the SC stayed both orders. BMC told SC it was not heard before the tribunal imposed a fine. Solid waste management department officials said they were not made party to the hearing and their efforts for segregation of waste and decentralized processing of waste were not considered. “From last October, we directed all bulk generators to treat their garbage on their premises, which was not taken into consideration. Besides, the matter pertaining to Deonar is being heard in the high court,” said an official.
Rules state there should be scientific disposal of solid waste through segregation, collection and treatment and disposal in an environmentally sound manner, which minimises the adverse impact on environment. BMC set a deadline of October 2, 2017, for bulk generators to segregate and compost waste but is struggling to get many of them to do it.
NGT, on October 30 last year, had directed BMC to pay a compensation of Rs 5 crore for damaging the environment, by not complying with solid waste management rules, 2016. Of 7,500-plus metric tons of garbage generated in the city daily, around 3,500 is taken to the city’s oldest dumping ground at Deonar.
An inspection by officials of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Mumbai Pollution Control Board (MPCB), district collector and BMC representatives in September 2018 found waste being dumped haphazardly at Deonar landfill.
BMC had filed a review application before NGT against the fine. NGT, dismissing the review application last December, directed the civic body to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 100 crore.
On Monday, the SC stayed both orders. BMC told SC it was not heard before the tribunal imposed a fine. Solid waste management department officials said they were not made party to the hearing and their efforts for segregation of waste and decentralized processing of waste were not considered. “From last October, we directed all bulk generators to treat their garbage on their premises, which was not taken into consideration. Besides, the matter pertaining to Deonar is being heard in the high court,” said an official.
Rules state there should be scientific disposal of solid waste through segregation, collection and treatment and disposal in an environmentally sound manner, which minimises the adverse impact on environment. BMC set a deadline of October 2, 2017, for bulk generators to segregate and compost waste but is struggling to get many of them to do it.
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