Team Herald

PANJIM: Goa is amongst the seven States that has been slapped with notices by the Supreme Court of India on garbage management and pollution in rivers.

Hearing a Special Writ Petition filed by MC Mehta against the Union of India & Others (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Goa as respondents), the apex court observed that the municipal corporations do not have even the basic arrangements for lifting of garbage, which is generated everyday.

“It appears to be a case of lost priorities. Be that as it may, there are certain cities which are managing garbage effectively and efficiently in India which indicates that it can be done in effective way but there is lack of planning in this regard,” the court observed.

Further, the SC directed the Pollution Control Boards of these States, as well as the Central Pollution Control Board and various governments, to place before it the date and material with respect to various rivers in the concerned States, and what steps they are taking to curb pollution in the rivers and to management as to industrial effluents, sewage, garbage, waste and air pollution, including water management.

“We club the ending case of water management with this matter. Reply to be submitted by January 1, 2020,” the order states.