Gurgaon: NGT asks civic body to not construct C&D waste plant without approval

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took a new turn in its latest order related to Basai the bird sighting area, giving some relief to birds and birdwatchers.

The green court, in its order dated January 24, asked the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) to not construct a construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing plant at the site without obtaining required authorisation from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) under Rule 7 of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.

“We have specifically warned the person concerned to keep their hands off from setting up of such plant without obtaining authorisation from HSPCB under Rule 7 of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016,” the order said.

The NGT also urged the pollution control board to look carefully into the rule book before granting a permission for the C&D waste plant.

“We further clarify in view of the clear provision of Rule 7 that the authority granting authorisation shall be mindful of the provision of Sub-Rule 1 of Rule 7 of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management
Rules, 2016, while considering the application for grant of authorisation to the C&D waste processing unit in question,” the order clarified.

The new direction came as the NGT was hearing a petition was filed by NGO Delhi Bird Foundation stating that the MCG should not undertake any activity related to the setting up of the waste processing plant until authorisation from the Haryana Pollution Control Board under Rule 7(3) is obtained.

The green court disposed of the miscellaneous application after issuing an order that now forces the MCG to mandatorily get an approval from pollution control board before starting work on the plant.

Meanwhile, MCG officials said they do not require any authorisation from the state pollution control board. The MCG will only seek an authorisation certificate once the plant is set up, they said.

“We will not apply for any authorisation before the work starts. The authorisation is required only after the building is constructed and not before that. We have the consent to establish the waste plant and we will start work,” said Sudhir Chauhan, senior town planner (STP), MCG.

“The order clearly mentioned that setting up of C&D plant cannot take place unless the MCG gets the required authorisation from the pollution control board, which will take some time. The MCG has to understand that there is a procedure to follow before it starts work at the site,” said Pankaj Gupta, member, Delhi Bird Foundation.

Ornithologists and birders are of the opinion that this development will affect the birding area.