Authority faces NGT rap over dump yard

NOIDA: A principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, heard an appeal by residents of Sector 137, regarding the issue of alleged illegal dumping of garbage being carried out in Sector 138A.
During the hearing, the court asked Noida Authority for replies to two queries — whether the dump yard site in Sector 138A was originally officially earmarked by the respondent authorities as one.Second, whether the authorities have earmarked any place or site for a dump yard yet.
“The counsel appearing for Noida Authority admitted before the court today that this site was not planned as a dump yard. The counsel primarily responded that the designated dump yard is in Greater Noida. The chairman came down heavily on actions of the respondent Authority for not having a planned dump yard. They have been asked to respond by September 15, 2017,” Sabah Iqbal Siddiqui, advocate representing the buyers in NGT told TOI.
“We had appealed to the NGT to gain clarity on the issue of the dump yard. We also wanted to know what arrangements the Authority has made for garbage disposal in new sectors,” Gaurav Chaudhary, the applicant on behalf of residents of Sector 137, said.
Sector 137 residents have long been protesting against the menace of garbage pile-up in the ‘illegal’ dump yard, which is situated opposite a series of new apartments. Residents have been complaining of stench and possible groundwater contamination from the rising pile of garbage.