NGT refrains from fining Meghalaya for poor SWM. Here’s why

Meghalaya will not have to pay an environmental penalty of Rs 109 cr because the state has already committed to the necessary amounts for the management of solid and liquid waste, said the NGT.

An NGT bench stated that although there are gaps in the generation and treatment of waste, immediate planning, timeline revisions, and a time-bound action plan will help resolve it. The bench recommended that the state create a single-window centralized planning and monitoring system for waste management at the state level.

The state government has filed a document pledging Rs 109 cr in a ring-fenced account right away. The state’s chief secretary has also affirmed that Rs 234 cr was readily accessible for waste treatment. The NGT panel ordered the chief secretary to submit bi-annual reports on the progress that could be verified, reports The Print.