Citizens’ clean environment cannot be an excuse for the basic rights, non-availability of funds: NGT

A clean environment is the basic right of citizens and the plea of ​​non-availability of funds cannot be an excuse for not ensuring that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that the Uttarakhand government should be allowed to illegally set up garbage disposal at dump yards The bank of river Khoh in Kotdwar is banned.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh ​​Kumar Goel said that in view of the repeated failures of the state, a case is made to take drastic action against its senior officials including Secretary, Urban Development for violation of statutory rules, Which is a punishable criminal offense, and also with the direction of recovering from wrong officers, requires the payment of compensation for continued damage to the environment.

The tribunal said that the progress in terms of deadlines set under the Solid Waste Management Rules is not sufficient and damage to the environment continues, which is a criminal offense.

“Clean environment is the basic right of citizens, the plea of ​​non-availability of funds cannot be an excuse …. However, with the last opportunity, we direct the Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand to take remedial action and file its affidavit. Within a month by e-mail, ”Peetha said.

The Green Panel stated that the damage to the environment and public health is not only due to the delay in cleaning up the heritage waste, but also due to non-compliance with other provisions of the rules, resulting in heavy generation Processing and processing of waste.

The NGT was hearing a petition filed by Uttarakhand resident Arvind Baniyal against illegal disposal of garbage at Ratanpur, Kashirampur, on the banks of Khoh river in Gadighat and near the sports stadium in Kotdwar, where garbage is being burnt. Polluting the river water.