NGT demands compliance on waste management in Bargarh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered state authorities to report on their actions regarding legacy waste issues in Bargarh town. This request comes after the NGT's order from nearly two years ago has not been followed. During a recent hearing on March 19, the tribunal noted that the Bargarh district collector had not responded as required. The NGT's east zone bench in Kolkata, led by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Arun Kumar Verma, addressed concerns about non-compliance. The district collector's lawyer requested more time to provide a response. However, the Bargarh Municipality has also failed to submit any compliance reports. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has not reported on the situation either. The NGT expressed concern over the continued lack of action, stating that the failure to comply with the March 2023 directives was serious. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for May 14. Local residents from Purushottam Nagar had filed a petition due to ongoing garbage dumping in their area. In its earlier order, the NGT instructed the municipality to install five sewage treatment plants by December 31, 2023, and asked the state government to deposit funds for waste management. The tribunal also recommended that part of the reclaimed dump sites be set aside for forests to help address ecological damage.