AGRA: Finding no improvement in garbage disposal system in Vrindavan even after one year of passing orders in this regard, the National Green Tribunal has made Nagar Palika Parishad and district magistrate personally liable for the situation and threatened to initiate appropriate proceedings in accordance with law against them.The Nagar Palika has been asked to ensure start segregation, storage, treatment and disposal of municipal solid waste within a period of four weeks. Moreover, the tribunal asked the state government to conduct a departmental inquiry against erring officials for lapses made in the past regarding burning and dumping of waste in Yamuna and use of plastic in the holy city.District administration and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) have been asked to ensure complete prohibition for use of carry bags and other plastic waste in the city of Vrindavan. On failure to do so, the executive officer of Nagar Palika Parishad and district magistrate, Mathura will be held personally liable.The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has been asked to issue notices and take action against defaulters. In the event of failure to comply the same, the member secretary of UPPCB shall be held personally responsible and appropriate action in accordance with law shall be taken against him, the tribunal stated.Agra divisional commissioner has been given time of six weeks to file a complete compliance report in this regard with the tribunal.The court was hearing an instant petition filed by Vrindavan-based activist Madhumangal Shukla.Shukla had filed a petition with the tribunal in 2015 alleging improper and unregulated disposal of municipal solid waste in the city of Vrindavan, especially in front of Tatiasthan, near river Yamuna and other places like Kalidaha, Shringarvat, and Ranapat Ghat among other.Shukla had further alleged that Yamuna is losing both its beauty and purity because it is being constantly tampered with. The situation has reached an alarming state of affairs, so much so that the river has been pushed about 300 to 400 meters away from the ghats and the illegal construction in the flood plain area has further worsened the crisis of river Yamuna, the petitioner had alleged.The court, finding merits in the claims, on May 11, 2016 had imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 5 lakh each on Mathura DM and Nagar Palika Parishad. It had also directed the UPPCB to pay Rs 1 lakh for its failure to contain the environmental damage. The tribunal had directed the state government to take disciplinary action against the erring officers and the staff.Moreover, the district authorities were ordered to develop a dumping site at Mart road, Vrindavan for dumping of MSW and submit a compliance report for setting up of waste processing plant. It had also put a total prohibition on dumping and burning of municipal solid waste in any street at any place near the water bodies, market or residential areas. It also prohibited the use of carry bags and other plastic waste in the entire city of Vrindavan.Subsequently, the officials filed appeals the NGT as well as the Supreme Court seeking relief, but were asked to comply with the tribunal's earlier order and pay the environmental compensations.Shukla finding no change on the ground despite strict orders of the tribunal, approached it once again and filed an instant application in January, 2017.While disposing the instant application on July 3, the tribunal has now threatened to actions against officials concerned. It once again directed respondents and the concerned officers who have not deposited the cost so far to do the same within two weeks.

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