AGRA: Despite a ban on burning of garbage by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), trash could still be seen on fire at several places across the city on daily basis. This is happening when the AGRA Municipal Corporation claims that it has directed area supervisors to identify such spots under their jurisdictions.
On May 31, the tribunal had issued notices to 11 departments including Union ministry of environment and forest, UP government, Central Pollution Control Board, Urban Development and Planning, Agra Development Authority, Agra divisional commissioner, district magistrate, UP Pollution Control Board, Agra Cantonment Board, Municipal Corporation and Archaeological Survey of India and sought their replies on trash burning in Agra within two weeks.
While fixing the next date of hearing on August 2, the tribunal had restrained all the agencies from burning municipal solid waste and other waste in open in Agra and the areas around the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone till that time.
NGT had issued notices on a complaint filed by environmentalist D K Joshi, who also serves on a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee tasked with looking into Yamuna and water-related issues.
However, things have not changed for better even after the tribunal's strict directive. Be it Kendriya Hindi sansthan road, Sanjay Place, Dayal Bagh, Shahganj, Jaipur House or many other parts of the city, rampant burning of garbage in municipal containers have been seen in the last few days.
Joshi is aghast at authorities' apathetic attitude. He told TOI, "It seems that even NGT's order is not enough to wake up officials from their deep slumber. Trash burning has many harmful effects on human, besides environmental degradation. It
is also a major cause of yellowing of Taj Mahal."
In his complaint, Joshi mentioned that Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC), tasked with lifting garbage in the city, has failed in its duty and instead trash is being burnt openly across the city on a daily basis. He has further contended that civic bodies in Agra are blatantly violating Solid Waste Management Rules as more than 2000 metric tonnes of solid waste per day were being dumped in various part of the city besides plastic waste which was being consumed by stray animals.
When contacted over the issue, deputy municipal corporation Anil Kumar said, "We are spreading awareness about NGT order and asking residents not to break rules. Our supervisors have also been asked to identify such spots. After municipal commissioner returns from abroad, a comprehensive plan will be made to stop this malpractice."
