NGT seeks fresh status reports on waste mgmt in Mohali

Mohali: NGT’s principal bench, New Delhi, has sought fresh status reports from the municipal corporation (MC), Mohali, and the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on solid waste management and cleanliness in the town.

The directions came during the hearing of an original application titled Punjab Judges & Officers Rural Cooperative Housing Building Society Ltd vs State of Punjab & Others. The bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairperson, and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad considered the replies filed by Mohali MC and PPCB.

The tribunal granted the civic body six weeks to submit a further status report, while PPCB was also allowed to file an additional report within the same period. The applicant has been given eight weeks to file a rejoinder.

The Mohali MC informed the tribunal that remedial measures had been taken and waste cleared from the site. It said regular operations, including manual and mechanical sweeping and litter-picking, were being carried out in affected areas such as Airport Road and adjoining green belts.

The civic body also submitted that directions had been issued to install tin boundaries and repair gates and boundary walls at the RMC point in Sector 77 to improve the area’s upkeep. It added that Gmada had been asked to maintain cleanliness and develop protective infrastructure on adjoining vacant land.

PPCB, in its submission, stated that during an inspection on April 29, the service road near the material recovery facility (MRF) was found clear of waste. However, unsegregated mixed waste was still lying on open land adjoining the Kharar-Airport Road stretch, it said, adding that the issue had been flagged to MC officials.

The matter is now listed for further hearing on Aug 14.

What the NGT flagged

Timeline set: 6 weeks for MC, PPCB reports; 8 weeks for rejoinder

MC’s claim: Waste cleared; routine sweeping on Airport Road, green belts

Infra steps: Boundary, gate repairs at Sec 77 RMC point

Other agency: Gmada asked to secure adjoining vacant land

PPCB inspection (Apr 29):

Service road near MRF clean

Mixed waste persists on open land towards Kharar-Airport Road

Next hearing: Aug 14