Coming down heavily on city authorities over inaction against illegal dairies and its waste management in the Capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of ₹10 lakh each on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the three municipal corporations.
Noting that authorities have “failed to discharge their duties,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the DPCC and the civic bodies to deposit the interim compensation with the Central Pollution Control Board within one month.
“Neither polluting activities are being prevented nor prosecution initiated, nor assessment and collection of compensation for restoration of the environment is being done. The municipal corporations claimed to have recovered certain fines but no adequate measures (in terms of relevant rules) have been adopted to remedy polluting activities,” the Bench observed.
Adding that the Animal Husbandry Department had failed to check overcrowding of animals, the Bench said, “(The department) has merely collected data of number of animals and number of diseased animals. No carrying capacity has been assessed or enforced to check overcrowding.”
The Delhi Chief Secretary has also been asked to convene a meeting with the authorities concerned and furnish an action taken report by July 8.
‘Lack of sensitivity’
Rapping officials for failure to devise proper action plan to tackle the issue, the Bench said, “Though various authorities of the Delhi government are represented by counsel, none of the authorities have undertaken to comply with environmental norms even though violation is clearly acknowledged….this shows lack of sensitivity on the part of all the authorities represented before this tribunal.”
“They have failed to perform their constitutional duties and responsibility in protecting environment and enforcing right of citizens to clean environment. If this is the state of affairs in the Capital of the country, environment rule of law will remain a serious challenge, even if it is recognised as a part of right to life,” said the Bench.
The NGT also took note of a report submitted by a joint panel comprising representatives of the CPCB and DPCC which established violation of norms and failure on the part of authorities to take due remedial action.
The directions came while the green panel was hearing a plea moved by animal rights activist Nuggehalli Jayasimha who sought directions to penalise and shut down illegal dairy units in the national capital.