NGT refuses to stay waste recycling plant construction in G’gram

New Delhi, May 20

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused to stay ongoing construction of a waste recycling facility in the catchment area of the Basai wetland in Gurugram on a petition claiming that it lacks the requisite approvals from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore noted that another bench of the tribunal had lifted the injunction after hearing the parties.

“In view of the earlier proceedings, we are of the opinion that no further order for purposes of clarification or for any other purpose is required,” the bench said.

The NGT also considered the submission of the petitioner that the matter be urgently heard and fixed it for hearing on May 30.

The tribunal had earlier directed the Haryana Government to respond to a plea against the alleged dumping of waste at a construction and demolition waste recycling facility being built in the catchment area of the Basai wetland.

According to a plea filed by the Delhi Bird Foundation, an NGO, the project proponent had environmental clearance for the plant, but lacked requisite approvals from the pollution board as per Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules.

Advocates Ritwick Dutta and Rahul Choudhary, appearing for the NGO, had sought an immediate stay on dumping of waste at the site, citing environmental concerns. The bench had sought replies of the state and project proponent on the issue.

The tribunal had, in January, lifted its stay on construction of a waste treatment plant in the catchment area of the Basai wetland after perusing revenue records and noting that the land in question had not been identified as a wetland by the state government.

The order had come after the project proponent assured the bench that it would not carry out construction on the site without obtaining consent from the pollution board.

The project proponent had given an undertaking that it would not set up any machinery or equipment to start construction without authorisation from the pollution board. — PTI