Bandhwari Fire: NGT Directs Notice to Environment Ministry and Others

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeks explanations from authorities about the recent fire at Bandhwari landfill site in Gurugram. The fire, potentially caused by methane gas combustion, raised concerns about environmental compliance and landfill gas management. NGT issued notices to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board, and other relevant agencies to file their responses by July 18 for further proceedings.

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from authorities, including the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), regarding the blaze in the Bandhwari landfill site in Gurugram last week.

A fire broke out at the site along the Gurugram-Faridabad Road, days after a massive blaze erupted at the Ghazipur waste site in east Delhi. Waste collected by the civic bodies in Gurugram and Faridabad is dumped at the site.

The NGT was hearing the matter where it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the fire.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted that the report claimed the combustion of methane gas could have caused the blaze and that there was an alleged lack of precautionary measures.

''The news item raises substantial issues relating to the compliance of environmental norms particularly with respect to prevention of fire and landfill gas management,'' said the bench comprising expert member A Senthil Vel.

The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents several authorities, including the MoEFCC, Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), and Gurugram's district magistrate (DM) and municipal corporation commissioner.

It noted that the counsel for the HSPCB, DM and commissioner sought four weeks to file their replies.

''Let notice be issued to MoEFCC, CAQM and CPCB for filing the response,'' the tribunal said in an order dated April 25.

The matter has been posted on July 18 for further proceedings.

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