The West Jaiñtia Hills district administration has issued a public notice prohibiting burning, throwing, burying of waste, use of stream or well for disposal of polluting matter, etc. along the catchment tributaries of Myntdu River.
The notice said all local authorities/bodies (includes the municipal corporation, nagar nigam municipal council, nagar palika, palikaparishad, municipal board, nagar panchayat and town panchayat, census towns notified areas and notified industrial townships with whatever name they are called in different States) should comply to the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
As per the Solid Waste Management Rules waste generators are prohibited to throw, burn or bury solid waste on streets, open public spaces, drains and water bodies like paper, water bottles, liquor bottles, soft drink canes, tetra packs, fruit peel wrappers, etc.
Waste generators are to segregate the waste at source as prescribed under the rules and hand over the aggregated waste to the authorized waste pickers or waste collectors authorized by the local body.
Street sweepers cannot burn tree leaves collected from street sweeping but are directed to store them separately and handover to the waste collectors or agency authorized by local body.
The NGT has also prohibited open burning of waste on lands, including landfill sites and violator are liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs. 5,000 in simple burning, Rs. 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning.
“The Environmental compensation shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue by the competent authority in accordance with law,” the notice said.
Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 use of stream or well for disposal of polluting matter is prohibited. The notice said no person shall knowingly cause or permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter determined in accordance with such standards as may be laid down by the State Board to enter (whether directly or indirectly) into any stream or well or sewer or on land.
The act also prohibits use of stream or well for disposal of polluting matters.
