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Dimapur, July 7 (EMN): The National Green Tribunal, Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has issued notice to the state government and six other respondents to file their para-wise replies within four weeks pertaining to the petition filed by Sunrise Colony, Burma Camp against the state government and others.
The tribunal in an order dated July 1, 2022, also directed the Dimapur deputy commissioner, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), chairman of Nagaland Pollution Control Board and the chief executive officer DMC to file their personal affidavits by the next date of listing.
The NGT passed the order after hearing M Padhi, the counsel appearing (in virtual mode) on behalf of the applicant (Sunrise Colony).
“The Applicant has also prayed that the Dimapur Municipal Council may be directed to re-locate the dump site to a more appropriate place in conformity with the environmental norms. The Respondents shall also consider this plea of the Applicant in their reply”, the order added.
Meanwhile, the Sunrise Colony Council (UNB) in a press release informed that it had earlier filed a PIL before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, demanding for shifting of the DMC dumping ground. The state respondents had participated in the case by filing its respective affidavits.
However, on March 14, 2022 when the matter was listed for hearing before the High Court, the counsel representing the state government raised the maintainability of the petition by stating that the subject matter of the PIL comes under jurisdiction of the National Green Tribunal, for which the counsel representing Sunrise Colony sought time for seeking instruction.
The PIL was disposed on March 15, 2022 by the High Court by giving liberty to Sunrise Colony to approach the NGT. The Colony therefore, approached the NGT, the release stated.
Sunrise Colony Council in the petition urged NGT, among others, to direct the respondents to immediately close the dumping ground located at Sunrise Colony and remove all the legacy wastes on the surface as well as wastes buried below the land surface, to direct the respondents to take necessary measures to rejuvenate the environmental impact caused to the Colony and its adjoining area due to illegal dumping over the years.
The council also petitioned NGT to direct the respondents to provide free clean drinking water facility, grant free medical check-up and provide free medicines to all the residents of Sunrise Colony and all the adjoining colonies.
Further, the petition prayed for NGT to direct an inquiry to fix responsibility and institute criminal proceedings for various offences committed under the Rules 2000, Rules 2016, Indian Penal Code, Environment Protection Act and such other acts against those responsible officers responsible for polluting the environment.
Besides the state of Nagaland, the other respondents include commissioner and secretary to the Government of Nagaland (Municipal Affairs department), director, Municipal Affairs Department, chief executive officer, DMC, deputy commissioner Dimapur, Nagaland Pollution Control Board and New Waves Bio Fuels India Pvt. Ltd.