The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Manipur government to pay Rs 200 crore as environmental compensation for improper solid and liquid waste management.
A bench headed by chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said remedial action cannot wait for an indefinite period, nor loose-ended timelines without accountability can be a solution. It states that it is the responsibility of the state to have a comprehensive time-bound plan with committed resources to control pollution.
The bench also comprises Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel. They said It is time for the state to recognize its duty to the law and its citizens and take further vigilance at its own level.
“Compliance of environmental norms on the subject of waste management has to be a high priority,” the bench said.
The tribunal further said there is a need to set up a centralized single-window mechanism for planning, capacity building, and monitoring of waste management at the state level.
It should be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary with representatives from the departments of Urban Development, Rural Development, Environment and Forests, Agriculture, Water Resources, Fisheries and Industries, the tribunal added.
Fixing accountability of the state authorities for the gap in sewage generation and processing along with the gap in solid waste management, the tribunal said, “We levy compensation of Rs 200 crores on the state on the polluter pays principle for its failure in scientifically managing the liquid and solid waste.”
“The amount may be kept in a ring-fenced account to be operated as per directions of the Chief Secretary,” it added.
Funds available for solid waste management can be used to build solid waste treatment facilities, remediation of legacy waste, and set up sewage treatment plants (STP) and Fecal Sludge & Septage Treatment Plants (FSSTP), the green panel said.
“Moreover, there are better alternatives to utilise the wet waste for composting at appropriate locations and the scale of expenditure for STPs may be reviewed in the light of realistic expenses involved in decentralised or traditional systems,” it added.
The NGT also directed six monthly progress reports with verifiable progress to be filed by the Chief Secretary before it.
