GUWAHATI, June 1 � The Kolkata-based Eastern Zone (EZ) Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) of the State for their failure to file an affidavit on the issue of an alternative site for dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW) of Guwahati, in order to shift the present dumping site for saving the Deepor Beel, the lone Ramsar Site wetland of the State.
In the same order, the EZ Bench of the NGT has also asked the State Chief Secretary and the Additional Secretary (Revenue) to file affidavits on the issue of alternative MSW dumping site within six weeks from May 28, 2015.
The EZ Bench of the NGT, in its May 28 order passed in this connection with the Original Application No.19/2015/EZ Rohit Choudhury versus Union of India and Others, has directed both the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) to deposit their fine amounts with the EZ NGT Bar Council, Kolkata for being utilised �for the purpose of filing different cases as public interest litigation on the issue of environmental protection.
The NGT Bench said in its May 28 order: �Despite our direction on several occasions no affidavit has been filed by the Chief Secretary, Govt of Assam. In terms of our earlier order dated 27/04/2015 we directed the Chief Secretary of Govt of Assam and the Principal Secretary cum Additional Secretary of the Revenue Department, Govt of Assam to submit the report in the form of affidavit for alternative dumping site of municipal solid waste as a last chance. Ld Counsel Pinaki Ranjan Chakraborty appearing for the Chief Secretary, State of Assam submits that he has no instruction about filing of the affidavit in terms of our earlier direction.
�Having regard to such state of affairs, as it is causing hindrance for speedy disposal of the matter by this Bench, we are constrained to pass order imposing a cost of Rs 10000/- each on the Chief Secretary of Govt. of Assam and the Principal Secretary cum Additional Secretary of the Revenue Department, Govt of Assam for non-compliance of our orders on several occasions and to file affidavit as to why our orders as passed earlier on several occasions have not been complied with.
�Let such affidavit disclosing the reason for non-filing of the report relating to alternative site for dumping the municipal solid waste be filed by six weeks.�
July 22, 2015 has been fixed as the next date in this case for consideration of the affidavits of the two senior most officers of the State Government on the issue of alternative MSW dumping site.
