NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Rajasthan government to pay Rs 3,000 crore as environmental compensation, for failing to comply with waste management rules.
Taking a serious note of improper management of solid and liquid waste, the principal bench of the NGT headed by chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said that the state authorities are accountable for contributing to pollution as they failed in their constitutional duties.
The bench was examining a matter related to waste management rules compliance by States.
The bench directed the state government to deposit a total compensation, rounded off at Rs 3,000 crores, in a separate ring-fenced account within two months, to be operated as per directions of the chief secretary and utilised for restoration measures.
The restoration measures concerning sewage management included setting up sewage treatment and utilisation systems, and upgrading systems or operations of existing sewage treatment facilities to ensure utilisation of their full capacities, the bench, also comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal as judicial member and A Senthil Vel as expert member, said.
The bench said the restoration plans are required to be immediately executed across the state in a time-bound manner and if violations continued, liability to pay additional compensation would be considered.
