Tribunal Fines Mizoram for Waste Management Lapses

The National Green Tribunal fined the state of Mizoram Rs 50,000 for failing to comply with orders to file a solid and liquid waste management report. The tribunal highlighted repeated non-compliance, urging the state’s environment secretary to attend the next virtual meeting in February.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the state of Mizoram for its failure to comply with instructions regarding waste management reporting. The NGT has been monitoring the compliance of states and union territories in managing solid and liquid waste.

In its ruling on November 5, a bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava pointed out that Mizoram was supposed to submit a six-monthly compliance report in March. Despite the state's advocate promising submission, the report was not filed.

Joining Justice Shrivastava, judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and another expert highlighted the complete non-compliance with tribunal directions. Consequently, Mizoram has been ordered to deposit the penalty amount within two weeks and ensure the environment secretary's virtual presence on February 13, with the next report to be filed by the Chief Secretary one week prior to the subsequent hearing.

(With inputs from agencies.)