Greens approach NGT regarding waste dumped on NH, rly lines

Mangaluru: The Aranya, Parisara Mathu Havamana Badalavane Sangha has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone, Chennai, asking the bench to direct the Palakkad railway division and the National Highways Authority of India to take responsibility and manage waste within their premises under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The petitioners brought to the notice of the tribunal that both the NHAI and Railways have not been collecting solid waste and plastic waste littered on their premises, such as railway tracks and the side of the national highway, despite having a responsibility as waste generators under Rule 4 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, as well as Rule 8 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

The bench recently appreciated the applicant for raising the issue. The applicants involved themselves in removing the solid waste dumped along the national highway and the tribunal admitted the matter since it raises substantial issues concerning compliance with environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of the scheduled enactments.

While the applicant was directed to implead the major local bodies through which the national highway is passing and where the dumping of solid waste on the roadside is acute, the matter has been posted for July 14.

On the sidelines of this development, Benedict Fernandes, secretary of the sangha, said a cleanliness drive inspired them to approach the NGT. "We were shocked to collect about 51 tonnes of waste from Kuntikana to Nanthoor, which was sent to the Pachanady dumping yard in 14 trucks, last year. Under the RTI, we sought information on the waste collection system adopted by NHAI and were told that dustbins have been provided at the toll plazas and that the responsibility for the management of solid/mixed waste is under the respective urban/local bodies,'' he said.

Fernandes said that the Palakkad railway division, in its RTI reply provided last year, detailed the wet waste processing unit established, the material recovery facility, and the contractors appointed for waste collection, segregation, and disposal in Southern Railway. However, neither the NHAI nor the railway division gave information regarding waste management beyond the premises of a toll plaza and railway station, respectively. There is no information regarding how the waste is being collected and managed beyond the toll plaza and railway station, that is, the national highway road as well as railway tracks. NHAI should install waste bins along all its roads and set up CCTV surveillance to identify and penalise those who litter, he said.