NGT Takes Cognizance Of Punekar News Report ‘Pune Faces Rising Concerns Over Garbage Burning and Poor Air Quality’; Issues Notices To PMC, MPCB And District Collector

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 8th March 2024: Pune is facing increasing concerns over the burning of garbage and poor air quality. A news item published in Punekar News on December 27, 2023, titled “Pune faces rising concerns over increased garbage burning and poor air quality,” has prompted the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take suo motu cognizance of the matter.

The Principal Bench of the NGT, Delhi, has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the District Collector of Pune to respond to the news item.

On February 28, 2024, the NGT’s Western Zone Bench based in Pune held a physical hearing (with hybrid option) to consider the matter. The District Collector of Pune, through counsel, Swati Vaidya. On the other hand, Rahul Garg, counsel for respondent No. 3, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), appeared before the tribunal and filed a report dated February 27, 2024.

The report submitted by PMC indicates that the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Department has formed monitoring squads across 15 ward offices and 42 prabhags consisting of ward officials, Divisional Sanitary Inspector (DSI), Sanitary Inspectors (SI), and Mokadams (Supervisors) for spotting and preventing the open burning of garbage at any place. The SWM Department has also issued a notification under the SWM Rules, 2016, declaring the penalty for garbage burning to be Rs 500 for every incident. The ward-wise daily reports are maintained for various offenses as per spot fine notification for penalties collected from the offenders. A chart has been provided by PMC, indicating the amount of fine levied and the number of fire incidents during the period from 01.01.2023 to 20.02.2024. It appears from this chart that regularly, regarding the fire occurrences, which are taking place, the fines are being imposed, and the same has been realized too. Therefore, it appears that PMC is taking adequate steps in this regard, the NGT bench stated in an order.

However, the news item also spoke about poor air quality at the places where these occurrences are happening. Therefore, the MPCB is also required to file their reply as to what measures are being taken at their end to bring down the air pollution. The tribunal has directed the Registry to send a letter to the Member Secretary of MPCB to explain why no one has appeared in this matter before the tribunal and why the reply has not been filed from their side. An affidavit to that effect shall be filed by respondent No.1-MPCB before the next date.

The matter has been put up for further consideration on March 15, 2024.