The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to give details of the total municipal solid waste generated in Mohali and Panchkula and its mode of collection and disposal.
A Bench headed by the NGT chairperson, Justice Swatanter Kumar, also sought similar details from the Chandigarh authorities and asked them to inform it about the exact quantum of plastic and other non-degradable waste, inert waste and degradable waste that can be composted.The green panel asked the Chandigarh authorities to file a comprehensive report regarding the Sukhna drain and directed that it be scientifically de-silted and cleaned of any municipal solid waste.“The affidavit will state as to what is the total municipal solid waste generated in these areas, what is the mode of its collection and how the waste is segregated, transported and disposed of,” the Bench said. The matter has now been fixed for hearing on August 8.The tribunal also asked the counsel appearing for the Ministry of Environment and Forests to take instructions if any plastic bags, including unwoven polypropylene, are recycled so that they do not generate waste or pollution. The NGT had earlier prohibited the use of plastic carry bags in various areas of Punjab and Haryana and had sought their response on the imposition of a complete ban. The direction had come while hearing a plea in which it was alleged that there was “gross failure” in the waste management system and delay in tackling garbage disposal in the UT, Chandigarh. — PTI