NGT fines Rajasthan govt for improper waste management

The Rajasthan government has been ordered to pay Rs 3,000 crore as environmental compensation for improper management of solid and liquid waste by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The state authorities were held responsible by a bench led by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel for their role in pollution and breach of their constitutional obligations.

The court’s bench stated that the “Polluter Pays” principle had to be applied as of January 1, 2021, and the compensation had to be equal to the loss to the environment and the cost of remediation because the deadlines for stopping water pollution and managing solid waste had passed.

The report stated that the total compensation for the failure to scientifically manage solid waste came to Rs. 555 crores.
The bench stated, “The total compensation is rounded off at Rs 3,000 crores, which may be deposited by the State of Rajasthan in a separate ring-fenced account within two months, to be operated in accordance with the Chief Secretary’s directions and used for restoration measures.”