PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Goa Chief Secretary to be present in person with regards to solid waste management implementation before it on January 25, 2021.
After several orders and proceedings before this Tribunal, on 16.01.2019, the Tribunal held that it will be necessary to require the personal presence of Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs in continuing non-compliance of the solid and liquid waste manage. 2/12 rules adversely affecting the environment and public health.
“Needless to say that such large scale non compliance of environmental law is resulting in deaths and diseases and irreversible damage to the environment without punishment and accountability for such non compliance,” the NGT said in its order
Further, the NGT has said that the violation of the Rules as well as orders of this Tribunal being by itself criminal offence under the law of land, non compliance is to be viewed sternly to enforce rule of law and no State authority can be on the wrong side of law and still continue hold public office.
The directions from NGT include setting up of environmental cells directly under the Chief Secretaries, regular periodical monitoring by the Chief Secretaries at the State level and by the District Magistrates at the District level and making atleast some cities, towns and villages compliant in the first instance and thereafter making the entire State compliant.
“Direction is to take action for non compliance by recovery of compensation or otherwise. The Tribunal also directed filing of quarterly reports by the Chief Secretaries. Based on such reports, CPCB was to file consolidated status reports. The Chief Secretaries were to appear after six months with updated status of compliance,” NGT order states