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Taking strict note of the rising pollution levels in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday slapped a fine of Rs 25 crore on the Delhi government over its failure to curb the menace of pollution in the city.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government was asked to furnish a performance guarantee of Rs 25 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to ensure that there is no further lapse in this regard.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said despite its clear directions, there is hardly any action for compliance of orders of the tribunal and pollution continues unabated in blatant violation of law and under the nose of the authorities "who have hardly done anything concrete except furnishing excuses and helplessness".
The green panel said that even after more than four-and-a-half years, the complaint of the aggrieved parties is that the pollution caused by the unregulated handling of plastic continues to remain unabated.
The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by Mundka village resident Satish Kumar and Tikri-Kalan native Mahavir Singh alleging pollution caused by burning of plastic, leather, rubber, motor engine oil and other waste materials and continuous operation of illegal industrial units dealing with such articles on agricultural lands in Mundka and Neelwal villages.
The tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi chief secretary to co-ordinate with the concerned municipal authorities, police authorities and other officers responsible for compliance of orders of this tribunal already passed referred to ensure compliance at the ground-level forthwith.
It had asked the chief secretary to hold a joint meeting with the persons considered responsible for compliance and till the orders remain un-complied, continue to hold such meetings at least once a month.
"It will be open to the chief secretary to seek feedback from concerned inhabitants about the ground situation," the NGT had said.
(With PTI inputs)
