National Green Tribunal directs DMC, Nagaland government to shift waste dumping site in Dimapur

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata, has directed the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and Nagaland government to implement several measures in connection with the petition filed by the Sunrise Colony Council in Burma Camp, Dimapur over a waste dumping site in the area.

In a delayed update received here on Wednesday, the Tribunal, in its hearing earlier last month (Feb. 3) by Justice B. Amit Sthalekar, Judicial Member, and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, Expert Member, disposed of the matter after analyzing its Committee’s report, while directing the state government to complete the dumpsite shifting process within one year – acquire land within six months and shift the present dumpsite to a new one in six months, by Jan. 31 2024.

In its order, the Tribunal has directed the DMC to prepare an action plan for waste management by April 30 this year, while no timeline has been set on waste segregation. The council has been asked to complete bio-mining process by May 31, 2024 and file an affidavit of compliance in this regard by July 1 2024.

The DMC has also been directed to complete the construction of concrete slab for waste processing as well as linear drainage inside the periphery of the dumpsite and install CCTV cameras for monitoring of the dumpsite for any fire or untoward incidence by May 31 this year, while Green Belt and Buffer Zone should be created by Sep. 30.

With regard to construction of Effluent Treatment Plant and Feacal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) with higher capacity, the Tribunal has directed the concerned authority to complete it by May 31 2024, while asking the state’s Chief Secretary to expedite the matter and ensure sanction of funds.

The order went on to state that “the present dumpsite shall be fenced completely with additional fence on the sides facing the river Dhansiri, ensuring that there is no contamination of solid and liquid wastes from the dump site in any manner with river water”.

It may be mentioned that the Sunrise Colony Council had approached the NGT after the High Court disposed of its PIL last year while giving it liberty to take up the matter with the statutory body.

The Sunrise colony had requested the Tribunal to direct the DMC to relocate the dump site to a more appropriate place in conformity with the environmental norms, alleging that it violates the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, contaminating the groundwater resources and the Dhansiri River through leaching and thus “has a direct effect upon the life and health of the residents of the area including flora and fauna”.

It went on to claim that plastic, rubber and other toxic material are being burnt openly, leading to toxic smell.

On this, an affidavit filed in August last year on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur expressed the inability to acquire land easily as it belong either belongs to private individuals or communities in the state and that “acquiring land within the minimum distance envisaged under the Solid Management Rules, 2016, is difficult” as Dimapur municipal area compromises only 18.32 Sq. Km.

The DMC apprised the Tribunal that the wastes collected is sprayed with a patented bio culture in order to start the process of bio-remediation. It added that segregated bio-degradable waste is treated at a compost plant set up within the dumpsite and that bio-mining machine had been purchased to treat wastes.