Aafrin Kidwai 
The National Green Tribunal has expressed displeasure over clearing of legacy waste at Bandhwari landfill site in Gurgaon saying seriousness of the concerned authorities is lacking.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that as per the report filed by the Central Pollution Control Board no steps are being taken for decontamination of groundwater and progress in the treatment of legacy waste is insignificant.
Out of 33 lakh ton dumped waste, less than 1 lakh ton (which is hardly 2 per cent ) has been remediated in the last more than one year, the tribunal noted.
The NGT said that this performance does not match the Constitutional obligation of the State or the mandate of the statutory rules on the subject and it seems that the seriousness of the concerned authorities is lacking.
“From the above, the only option left to require the State to pay compensation for continuing damage to the environment till compliance, and direct prosecution of the concerned Secretary, but on the assurance of the Municipal body, we give the last opportunity for ensuring meaningful action on the ground level by the next date.
“Future action plan must provide for placing information about day-to-day progress on the website and to ensure processing of current waste at some other site. We understand that site for Faridabad has already been identified which may be made operational at the earliest for the purpose of processing the current waste,” the bench said.
