Tribunal directs Mandi Board DGM to file personal affidavit in 2 weeks

In continuation to earlier hearing held regarding an application filed by members of the Public Action Committee (PAC), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Deputy General Manager (DGM), Mandi Board, to file a personal affidavit in two weeks’ time disclosing daily waste generation on the Sabzi Mandi premises, manner of its treatment and quantity of waste, which is lying on its premises on the date of filing the affidavit.

The PAC had filed the application before the Tribunal in 2023 regarding worst conditions of the wholesale vegetable market due to garbage being dumped and burnt frequently. The matter was disposed of by formation of a committee comprising the District Magistrate, PPCB and Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, to take remedial action after the due process. The PPCB filed one report, directing the board to ensure processing of garbage on its premises as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and also prohibition on single-use plastic in the market.

After getting the report from the PPCB, the matter was reopened and the PAC submitted facts regarding frequent burning of waste as well as increase in the legacy waste in the market. However, the DGM submitted that they had entered into an agreement with the MC to shift the garbage to the Tajpur site, which was against the Solid Waste Management Rules.

The NGT had directed the DGM to file a reply on objections raised by the petitioners and appear in person on July 10. The DGM admitted in its reply that there is 10182.60 Cubic Meters of legacy waste, which corresponds to 2,050 trolleys of waste lying in the vegetable market.

The petitioners, Kapil Arora and Mohit Jain, said 10182.60 Cubic Meters of legacy waste turns out to be over 8,000 MT of garbage. Further, facts were also produced regarding the burning of garbage again on April 1 and April 6 but despite the filing of the complaint, no action was taken by the PPCB or the MC. After changing the contractor, the condition of the vegetable market has worsened. After permission of court, the petitioners also showed a live video of the actual condition of the garbage lying in market.

On Saturday, the DGM appeared before the Chairperson Bench but she could not answered the query of the court regarding how much solid waste was lying as on Saturday on the vegetable market premises. Accordingly, the NGT gave two weeks’ time to the DGM to file the personal affidavit, disclosing daily waste generation on the mandi premises, manner of its treatment and quantity of waste, which is lying there on the date of filing the affidavit.

The Bench also directed the PPCB to carry out a spot inspection to ascertain the quantity of waste, which is lying untreated on the Mandi premises and the arrangement that has been made by the Mandi Board for the treatment of daily generated waste. The next date of hearing is August 21.

Ludhiana