Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding disposal of municipal solid waste, Pune, Maharashtra, 20/02/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Dr. Udaykumar Jagtap Vs Saswad Municipal Council & Others dated 20/02/2019 regarding disposal of municipal solid waste and steps taken by the Saswad Municipal Council, District Pune to prevent pollution of river Karha and its streams and water bodies. The Tribunal had disposed of the matter on 04.09.2014 where in the said judgment, the Tribunal directed the Saswad Municipal Council to commission the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Plant by 31.03.2015.
The present application has been filed for execution of the directions by stating that steps have not been taken for commissioning of the MSW Plant. On 01.12.2017, statements were recorded on behalf of the Urban Development Department, State of Maharashtra to the effect that policy for disposal of legacy waste has been framed and on behalf of the Saswad Municipal Council that tender has been issued for executing the work of bio-mining. The applicant however, states that Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is not functioning and even MSW plant is not working. Saswad Municipal Council states that the STP will start working within one and a half years and MSW plant is actually in operation.
National Green Tribunal while expressing its displeasure at the delay in the commissioning of the MSW plant said that the Saswad Municipal Council should be made accountable for discharging untreated sewage. In view of past failure for long time in preventing discharge of untreated sewage in water bodies, pending consideration of the compensation for damage to be recovered, the Tribunal directs Saswad Municipal Council to furnish a Performance Guarantee of Rs. 25 Lakhs to CPCB within one month and to give an undertaking to make STP fully functional and operative within one and a half years and in the default, the amount to be forfeited. This may be ensured by the Secretary, Urban Development, Maharashtra.