NGT sets one-year deadline to relocate DMC dumpsite

March 2, 2023 25 Views No Comment

Dimapur, March 2 (MExN): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Government of Nagaland and six others to complete the process of land acquisition and shifting of the present Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) dumpsite at Sunrise Colony, Burma Camp, by January 31, 2024.

The direction was given on February 3 when the NGT Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata heard a petition filed by Sunrise Colony against pollution caused by the dumping ground maintained by the DMC.

Perusing the affidavits filed by the respondents as well as reports submitted by a Committee set up by the Tribunal, the Bench observed that the entire municipal waste viz., solid waste, liquid waste, plastic waste, e-waste etc., which is generated is not being segregated by the DMC. “In fact, what the affidavit shows is that the entire waste is kept at the dumpsite and then it is sprayed with Bio-remedial sprays. In our opinion, this is not the treatment process of wastes as per the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000, Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Liquid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and E-waste (Management) Rules, 2016. Admittedly, the Bio-mining is not being carried out, only Bio-remediation is being done,” the Bench stated in its order.

In line with the petition filed by the Sunrise Colony, the Bench stated that it already given a timeline of one year i.e., six months for completion of acquisition proceedings and further six months for shifting of the present dumpsite to the new dumpsite by January 1, 2024. It also directed the DMC to prepare an Action Plan for Waste Management by April 30, 2023.

Among others, the NGT set a series of deadlines for various respondents which include the State of Nagaland through the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland; the Commissioner & Secretary, Directorate of Municipal Affairs; the Director, Department of Municipal Affairs; the DMC through its Chief Executive Officer; and the Dimapur DC.

With regard to implementation of strict enforcement of Waste Segregation from source, while noting that “it is a continuous process and, therefore, no timeline can be given,” it directed the DMC to commence the same within one month, if it is not already being undertaken.

Taking note that the legacy waste at the existing DMC dumpsite is about 1,04,620 MT, the Bench directed the DMC to complete Bio-remediation and Bio-mining process by May 31, 2024 and file an affidavit of compliance by July 1, 2024. The DMC was also tasked to create a Green Belt and Buffer Zone by September 30, this year.

Further, installation of Weigh Bridge in the dumpsite, construction of a Concrete Slab for Waste Processing (Segregation Process), installation of CCTV cameras for monitoring, and construction of Linear Drainage inside the periphery of the dumpsite shall be completed by May 31, the NGT order stated.

Citing the Committee report, the NGT Bench stated that the damage caused by leachate is “not so great as to warrant computation of Environmental Compensation but it is necessary to install an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at the earliest.”

In this connection, it noted that the construction of ETP would require sanction of budget by the State Government and, as such, directed the Chief Secretary to expedite the matter and ensure sanction of funds so that the DMC can complete construction by May 31, 2024. Similarly, directions were given with regard to construction of Feacal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) with higher capacity.

In addition to this, the NGT Bench has also directed that the present dumpsite shall be fenced completely with additional fence on the sides facing the river Dhansiri, ensuring that there is no contamination of solid and liquid wastes from the dump site in any manner with river water.

Meanwhile, to ensure effective compliance of all the remedial measures, the NGT directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a Committee which shall include the Principal Secretaries of the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Departments; Municipal Commissioner, DMC; Chairman/Member Secretary, Nagaland State Pollution Control Board; and any other Member whom the Chief Secretary may consider necessary.

“Needless to say the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland, shall be the Chairman of the Committee. The Committee shall conduct quarterly review of the remedial measures suggested by the Committee and ensure compliance of the directions…,” the order stated.

A comprehensive affidavit of compliance in this regard shall be filed by the Committee on or before July 1, 2024, it said while disposing the original application.