Panaji: Even after a complete ban on burning of waste in open, village panchayat of St Cruz, continues with the practice and ends up being fined for Rs. 25,000. On receiving a complaint from a local social worker, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) carried out an inspection and fined the village panchayat of St Cruz situated on the outskirts of Panaji. North Goa Collector has been made responsible for collecting the fine amount. The board has taken such an action for the first time, said an official. Last year, in an order, National Green Tribunal has prohibited burning of waste in an open space across the country and announced a fine of Rs. 25,000 on any such activity.
We specifically direct that there shall be complete prohibition on open burning of waste on lands, including at the landfill sites. For each such incident, violators including project proponent, concessionaire, any person or body responsible for such burning, shall be liable to pay environmental compensation of Rs. 5,000 in case of simple burning, while Rs. 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
GSPCB had also sought a clarification from the village panchayat, but unfortunately panchayat failed to reply. While on one hand Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has shunned all kinds of plastic from his life and his trying to make Goa waste free, the instances of open burning of waste still prevail on the other side. Making Goa waste free is not limited to reducing plastic waste or minimising the use of environmentally hazardous plastic, but also food waste. Chief Minister Parrikar has also urged all the government officials to make Swachh Bharat a “personal agenda”.
With inputs from PTI
