GMC chief fined 15k for ‘misleading’ report

Ghaziabad: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the Ghaziabad municipal commissioner for filing a ‘misleading’ report on untreated sewage/effluents being flushed into a stormwater drain in Karkarmodel.In an order dated May 16, a three-member bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel stated that an attempt has been made by the GMC to incorrectly state facts before it.

Hence, they imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on the municipal commissioner for filing such a misleading response before the tribunal.In 2021, petitioner Sushil Raghav filed a case in the NGT seeking a remedy to prevent untreated sewage/effluent from being discharged into the stormwater drain in Karkarmodel, Sahibabad.According to Raghav, NGT had issued a notice to respondents to file a response in the case in Jan this year. In Feb, the under secretary of the state’s environment, forest and climate change department stated in its response that the GMC and district magistrate were ensuring compliance.However, the court later observed that “the so-called communication, which is stated to be the report by the state of UP, reflects that from 19.03.2021 till 22.02.2024, nothing had been done for compliance with the said order.”“The municipal commissioner had initially taken the stand that no sewage is flowing into the stormwater drain, but when we asked him to point it out from the compliance report of the MCG, he could not do so. This irked the NGT, which led the tribunal to impose a fine on the municipal commissioner,” Raghav went on to explain.Speaking on the matter, a GMC official told TOI, “The NGT order is being deliberated upon, and a response to it will be filed in consultation with the state govt.”The court has listed the matter for September 2, 2024, and ordered that a compliance report be filed at least one week before the hearing.The Sahibabad drain, which starts from Loni and terminates in the Gazipur drain, is 35km long and its average width is 50 to 60 feet. It was essentially a stormwater drain, but it eventually turned into a major drain that carries all kinds of industrial, domestic and untreated effluents. On average, the drain carries around 127 MLD of wastewater and effluents.

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