New Delhi: National Green Tribunal On Monday, it directed the Haryana government to stop the overflow of sewage on the section of Delhi-Agra highway within three months and warned of strict action in case of failure.
a bench headed by NGT Chairman Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that sewage is overflowing Seekri village Shows the apparent failure of the authorities to uphold the right of citizens to a clean and safe environment on the highway.
“The issue was highlighted in the media more than a year ago and the Tribunal passed the first order on January 7 last year. It is difficult to accept that even the issue of tender for one and a half year is not finalised. could, even though the matter is of such great urgency.
“The contention that there was only one tender or that no person was available to execute the work shows a lack of environmental awareness. No prohibition against awarding work to a single tenderer has been brought to our notice. There is also no prohibition. The work of such an urgent nature is being executed departmentally,” the bench said.
The tribunal observed that giving long deadlines without any firm commitment is also a matter of concern and failure of the authorities concerned.
“Thus, a case is made out for taking coercive action against the authorities concerned for such serious failure and attitude.
“However, as a last opportunity, we give three months time for meaningful remedial measures, failing which the Tribunal will have no other option than to proceed personally against the Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana. There will be no alternative, who is in a position to correct the situation,” the bench said.
The NGT directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana to be present in person through video conference with compliance status on December 7 as the next date of hearing.
The tribunal passed the order after taking cognizance of a news article published in an English newspaper report which said that sewage from Sikri village in Haryana’s Faridabad district was flowing on the service road and the Delhi-Agra highway.
The petition said that the flooded road obstructs vehicular movement, emits foul odor, causes water-borne diseases and accidents on the highway.
“Pipelines and drains often get clogged due to dumping of waste in open drains, which leads to excessive flow of sewage on the service road,” the petition said.
a bench headed by NGT Chairman Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that sewage is overflowing Seekri village Shows the apparent failure of the authorities to uphold the right of citizens to a clean and safe environment on the highway.
“The issue was highlighted in the media more than a year ago and the Tribunal passed the first order on January 7 last year. It is difficult to accept that even the issue of tender for one and a half year is not finalised. could, even though the matter is of such great urgency.
“The contention that there was only one tender or that no person was available to execute the work shows a lack of environmental awareness. No prohibition against awarding work to a single tenderer has been brought to our notice. There is also no prohibition. The work of such an urgent nature is being executed departmentally,” the bench said.
The tribunal observed that giving long deadlines without any firm commitment is also a matter of concern and failure of the authorities concerned.
“Thus, a case is made out for taking coercive action against the authorities concerned for such serious failure and attitude.
“However, as a last opportunity, we give three months time for meaningful remedial measures, failing which the Tribunal will have no other option than to proceed personally against the Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana. There will be no alternative, who is in a position to correct the situation,” the bench said.
The NGT directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana to be present in person through video conference with compliance status on December 7 as the next date of hearing.
The tribunal passed the order after taking cognizance of a news article published in an English newspaper report which said that sewage from Sikri village in Haryana’s Faridabad district was flowing on the service road and the Delhi-Agra highway.
The petition said that the flooded road obstructs vehicular movement, emits foul odor, causes water-borne diseases and accidents on the highway.
“Pipelines and drains often get clogged due to dumping of waste in open drains, which leads to excessive flow of sewage on the service road,” the petition said.
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