Team Herald
PANJIM: Expressing its complete displeasure towards authorities’ failure to act against environmental degradation, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed State Chief Secretaries, across the country, to undertake performance audit of all the regulatory bodies with regards to their implementation of environmental norms, within six months.
NGT Principal Bench, New Delhi, headed by Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel has directed the Chief Secretaries to conduct performance audit of all regulatory bodies and recommend the remedial measures to be taken, within six months.
The Green bench noted that water is being polluted because of discharge of untreated sewage and effluents; air is polluted due to failure to manage solid waste; groundwater level is deteriorating, forests and wildlife is being damaged; and sand mining has been unscientific and uncontrolled.
“Unsatisfactory implementation of law is clear from the fact that in spite of severe damage, there is no report of any convictions being recorded against the polluters, nor adequate compensation has been recovered for damage caused to the environment. Steps for community involvement are not adequate,” the tribunal noted.
“There is reluctance even to declare some major cities as fully compliant with the environment norms. The authorities have not been able to evolve simplified and standard procedure for preparing project reports and giving of contracts,” it added.
NGT said that there is no satisfactory plan for reuse of the treated water or use of treated sewage or waste and for segregation and collection of solid waste, for managing the legacy waste or other wastes, etc.
“As such, the Tribunal noted that there was a need to conduct performance audit of statutory regulators so that they are manned by competent as well as credible persons and there is a regime of their accountability, as observed by Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the order issued on March 5, reads.
Tribunal said that the failure to do so would be disastrous for the health of the citizens and defeat the very purpose of regulatory regime manned to protect the environment.
With specific reference to the Solid Waste management (SWM) rules, NGT said that violation of Rules are statutory offences under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and results in deterioration of environment, affecting the life of the citizens, it was noted that the authorities may be made accountable for their lapses and required to furnish performance guarantee for compliance or pay damages as had been directed in some of the cases.
Further, the tribunal has asked the States to comply with SWM rules within six months and to take steps towards effective implementation of bio-medical waste management rules and plastic waste management rules.
In next two weeks, the State has to public declare three major cities or towns and panchayats in each district as model cities, towns and villages which would be made fully compliance with environmental norms within six months, while the rest in one year.
Chief Secretaries are directed to remain present in person during the next hearing on September 16.
