Aafrin Kidwai 
The NGT has expressed its disapproval at the allegedly complacent attitude of authorities in dealing with waste management in Uttar Pradesh’s Indirapuram, Vasundhara and Vaishali areas.
The issue for consideration was non-compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Garbage from the areas was dumped in Ghaziabad’s Shakti Khand area, adversely affecting air quality there. It was alleged that the garbage caught fire at Shakti Khand October 20, 2017. Waste was not segregated and non-degradable waste was not being recycled.
The matter was considered on several occasions in the wake of reports submitted to the NGT by concerned statutory authorities. It was found that there was no scientific management of garbage, resulting in damage to the environment and public health.
A report was filed on August 28 by the Ghaziabad district magistrate that did not show any meaningful progress. Another report was filed by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam August 27 that merely referred to some paperwork, the NGT said in its September 2 order.
The tribunal ordered for meaningful steps to be taken by statutory authorities expeditiously and a compliance report filed as well. It requested an oversight Committee — headed by former Allahabad High Court judge SVS Rathore — to look into the matter and give its independent report. The case was listed again for January 19, 2021.
The full NGT report is available here.
