Aafrin Kidwai 
Exterior of a factory. For representational purposes only
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution control boards to ensure that no permit is given to any new industry which generates hazardous effluents till facilities for disposal of such waste are made available.
The green panel directed the CPCB to enforce its directions for recovery of compensation for the continuing damage to the environment as per the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel asked CPCB to set up a system to cross verify the status of hazardous waste generating industries and also direct state pollution control boards to impose environmental compensation against delinquent industries.
The tribunal directed all the states and union territories to furnish their compliance reports by October 31, 2020 to the CPCB. “Chief Secretaries of the States at the State level and the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the CPCB at the national level may monitor compliance. Further action taken report in the matter be furnished by CPCB after four months,” the bench said.
The NGT had earlier directed all the states to file a detailed response about the agencies authorised to collect, transport, dispose of the hazardous waste as per the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules.
Picture Credit: Photo by Afonso Lima from FreeImages
