Penalty amount would be used for setting up solid waste processing facilities, old waste treatment

PATNA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an environmental fine of Rs 4,000 crore on Bihar for failing to manage solid and liquid waste scientifically. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice AK Goyal directed that the penalty amount be deposited in a 'ring-fence account' within two months and be used only for waste management in the state as per the instructions of the Chief Secretary. A portion of the deposits in the ring-fence account is reserved for a specific purpose.

A fine of Rs 4,000 crore has been imposed on the State under the polluter pays principle for failing to carry out scientific management of liquid and solid waste in violation of the mandate of law, particularly the judgments of the Supreme Court and this Tribunal, the bench said. 

It said that the penalty amount would be used for setting up solid waste processing facilities, old waste treatment and construction of sewage treatment plants, to ensure better waste management.

The NGT noted that Bihar has a management burden of 4,072 metric tonnes of untreated municipal waste generated per day along with 11.74 lakh metric tonnes of old waste. He said that there is a gap of 2,193 million liters per day in the production and treatment of liquid waste in the state. It said that the cost scale for sewage treatment plants may be reviewed, keeping in mind the actual costs involved in decentralized, conventional systems or others.

The bench suggested that better alternatives should be explored to utilize the wet waste for composting at suitable sites. Along with this, the bench consisted of Justice Sudhir Aggarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi along with expert members Afroz Ahmad and A Senthil Vel.