Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad announced that there is a huge amount of solid waste in Gurugram due to the large amount of untreated sewage, which is adversely affecting the environment and public health. The move is in response to the Supreme Court’s May 13 judgment and the National Green Tribunal’s observations on the need for a cleaner environment. In its May 13 decision, the Supreme Court said that a large amount of unprocessed solid waste destroys the environment, which is the main factor affecting the unpolluted life of citizens guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution.
The NGT, in its order dated September 23, 2022, observed that the situation is an environmental emergency, but the required seriousness has not yet been resolved.
The chief secretary, in an order issued on June 11, said that the current data on solid waste levels in Gurugram calls for a boost in the efforts of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) and other organizations involved in municipal solid waste management. and that there are implementation issues that need to be addressed, both in terms of resources and delivery.Prasad said that municipal solid waste in Gurugram has been declared under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and a solid waste environmental monitoring program has been launched to address the critical issues of waste management.
He said the program was headed by a high-level committee including the divisional commissioner, deputy commissioner, city commissioner, chief engineer of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), environmental engineer of the Haryana Pollution Control Board, and deputy commissioner. The police headquarters (HQ) is trying to change waste management in Gurugram.
Panel to install a 3-level system for waste collection and disposal
The CS said the committee has been tasked with introducing a three-level system for waste collection, segregation, transportation, recycling, and disposal in all 35 wards of Gurugram and the GMDA area.Additional measures include setting up a 24×7 control room with a dedicated phone number for proactive monitoring, gap analysis of existing infrastructure, GIS-based mapping for waste tracking, and the development of a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
The program also aims to implement an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) plan for the management of construction and demolition waste, provide adequate equipment for waste processing, provide cleanliness awards, and raise awareness. Daily reports will be sent to the Disaster Management Authority, and any violation of the order will be punished under relevant laws. The initiative will eventually be extended to other urban districts in Haryana.
Any violation of this order will attract penal action under the Disaster Act of 2005, the Municipalities Act of 1994, and other laws, he said. Violations can be punished by a fine or imprisonment by law.