New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on Haryana government with regard to unremediated legacy waste, which is damaging the environment and public health.

The principal bench of NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, in a recent order, noted that a meeting held by the Chief Minister on December 7, 2020 and the appointment of a senior IAS officer to coordinate the work have not produced tangible result, as it took one year to handover 10 acres of land to set up the Waste To Energy Plant.

The original plea in the issue contended that the Bandhwari landfill site in Gurugram is being dumped by about 33 lakh metric tonnes of solid waste since years.

As per the plea, the waste is being burnt, causing air pollution which has the potential to affect not only the inhabitants, but also the Asola Bhati Wildlife Sanctuary having 193 species of birds, large number of medicinal plants and more than 80 species of butterflies, black buck, golder jackal, leopards etc.

"Out of 2,20,082 tonnes of RDF, only 76,226 tonnes were uptaken. As may as 1,43,856 tonnes still remain with no solution in sight. There is no operating agreement for RDF use with cement plants at Neemach or power plant at Murthal, Sonepat," the order noted, pointing out the waste disposal.

The tribunal also formed a nine-member committee, headed by Chairman, HSPCB, and comprising senior officials from Gurugram and Faridabad administration to take stock of the situation and plan further course of action.

Ten acres of land of the Bandhwari site which has been already cleared may be utilised for setting up of waste processing facilities to manage waste disposal, the tribunal said in the order.