NGT restrains HUDA, MCG from dumping waste in Aravali forest

Press Trust of India | New Delhi January 22, 2016 Last Updated at 18:32 IST

The National Green Tribunal today restrained HUDA and Gurgaon Municipal Corporation from dumping waste in the Aravalli forest after taking note of indiscriminate piling of construction and industrial waste in the green area. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon while directing these to show cause why environmental compensation in terms of Section 16 and 17 of National Green Tribunal, Act 2010 be not imposed on them.

“We restrain HUDA and Municipal Corporation, Gurgaon from dumping any waste in any green area or, in fact, at any place other than the sites identified for dumping of waste,” the bench said. The green panel’s order came on the plea filed by environmentalist Vivek Kamboj who has alleged that municipal corporations of Gurgaon and Faridabad were disposing of industrial waste and construction debris in forest areas on Gurgaon­Faridabad road. “The applicant has raised the issue of dumping of industrial waste and construction debris in the forest area on the entire stretch of Delhi­Gurgaon road falling in jurisdiction in Gurgaon and on GurgaonFaridabad road starting from Gurgaon till Air Force Radar Station. “The applicant noticed large scale dumping of waste on January 17 by MCG and HUDA in the forest area.

It was shocking to see that these authorities were not only dumping the waste but were also pushing the waste inside the forest area with the help of earth mover and other machinery,” the plea filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, said. Kamboj has submitted before the bench that he even raised objections against dumping and pushing of the wastes in the forest area but the authorities continued the same. He has also filed photographs showing that tractors which are involved in dumping of waste, belong to HUDA and municipal corporation of Gurgaon. Kamboj has referred to a newspaper report which said that construction debris was found being dumped in forest area and quoted a resident there who states that lots of vehicles dump waste in forest area on every Sunday morning.