Bhubaneswar: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued show-cause notices to the District Collector of Angul and other erring officials of Angul municipality for their non-compliance of an earlier order of the NGT on the issue of solid waste management.
Realising the gravity of the contempt, the NGT in its latest order said, “Issue notice upon the District Collector, Angul and the Executive Officer, Angul Municipality to issue show-cause as to why appropriate order shall not be passed for non-compliance of the orders within one month from hence and transmitted to the Tribunal (sic).” This comes after the applicant had claimed that there is non-compliance of the earlier order of the tribunal in the case.
A petition was earlier filed in the NGT challenging the non-implementation of the tribunal’s July 14, 2017 order wherein the Tribunal had directed the authorities to set up Solid Waste Management Plant and clear the garbage from Ward No 1 and 18 of the Angul Municipality.
The petitioners highlighted that the garbage continued to be dumped in residential areas of Ward no 1 and 18 in violation of NGT order. The petitioner also warned that the dengue situation of 2011 might make a comeback at any point owing to the mismanagement of garbage which is mostly dumped in low-lying areas, roadside and water bodies without any treatment and in blatant violation of the earlier tribunal order.
Experts claim that non-compliance of NGT order could lead to legal ramifications. “Whoever fails to comply with any order or award or decision of the Tribunal shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to Rs 10 crore, or with both and in case the failure or contravention continues, with additional fine,” said NGT lawyer Sankar Prasad Pani.
The tribunal has asked the administration to submit its replies before April 30, 2019 when they will hear the case again to pass a new set of orders.
PNN