NT NETWORK
Panaji
All the state governments including Goa may have to pay an environment compensation of Rs one lakh each for not submitting their respective action plans on systematic disposal of plastic waste to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the last three quarters as directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The NGT, on December 6, 2019, directed all states and Union territories to submit an action plan for compliance of plastic waste management (PWM) rules and furnish the same to the CPCB quarterly, failing which a compensation of Rs 1 lakh per quarter shall be levied by the CPCB.
The CPCB, in its direction, has asked the state pollution control boards to submit complete information as per the format sent to them on December 31, 2019, and deposit compensation with them for non-submission of information for the three quarters.
The CPCB said all state pollution control boards were asked to submit information on plastic waste management as per the new format but none of the states has complied with the direction.
“No response has been received from your
state/UT so far and whereas gaps have been observed in the report filed for the quarter between October and December. It is a violation of Rule 5 and Rule 6 of PWM rules as well as provision of NGT Act,” the notice reads.
In a notice issued to the principal secretaries of states, the apex pollution monitoring board has observed that although the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules were notified in 2016, the implementation on plastic waste management system for collection, channelisation, segregation and disposal of plastic waste remains inadequate.
The CPCB has said that the NGT, during a hearing in September this year, observed the failure of many state governments in submitting the action plan for implementation of various provisions of Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016 and asked the CPCB to file action taken report.
