Waste treatment: SC stays NGT order asking Maharashtra to pay Rs 12,000 cr

The NGT has been monitoring the issues of solid and liquid waste management as per orders of the Supreme Court dated September 2, 2014 in the case Almitra H. Patel vs. Union of India & Ors and order dated February 22, 2017 in in Paryavaran Suraksha vs. Union of India.

In the case of Maharashtra, the NGT principal bench noted: “Tribunal has come across cases of serious neglect and continuing damage to the environment in absence of inadequate steps for treatment of solid and liquid waste. We are of the view that issues have been identified and monitored by the Tribunal for a long time. It is high time that the State realizes its duty to law and to citizens and adopts further monitoring at its own level”.

The bench had rounded off the compensation amount to Rs 12,000 crore and directed that this “may be deposited” by Maharashtra in a separate ring-fenced account within two months, to be operated as per directions of the Chief Secretary and utilised for restoration measures”.