NGT asks govt to submit compliance report

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttarakhand Government to submit within four weeks a percentage-wise compliance report on steps taken by it to clean the Ganga in the stretch between Gomukh and Haridwar.
A Bench, headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim, asked the government to make a categorical statement about the stage of compliance rather than indicating what work was under progress.
The green panel has directed the government to file the report of compliance by July 19.
“On behalf of the state of Uttarakhand, it is submitted that the compliance report filed by them indicates substantial compliance. However, it is pointed out by counsel Vijay Hansaria that various directions of the tribunal are yet to be complied with in totality. The counsel, on behalf of the state, submits that they require four weeks more to compile all information and file to the satisfactory of the tribunal. We accept his request and grant them time till July 19 for filing the report of compliance after serving a copy in advance of 10 days to counsel M C Mehta for examining it and file their response by the next date of hearing,” said the Bench.
During the hearing, advocate Mehta, who has filed a plea for the Ganga rejuvenation, said only one official, SD Singh, was deposing in all affidavits, whereas the directions refer to several other departments of the government.
He contended that in case of any default, appropriate action in accordance with law has to be taken and therefore one person deposing affidavits in respect of all other departments is “not in the real spirit of the directions of the tribunal”.
The Uttarakhand Government, however, submitted that SD Singh was appointed as the nodal officer and the state will be bound by his statement.
Noting the submissions, the tribunal said,”Submissions taken on record and we make it clear that in case of any default, the affidavit filed by the said officer shall be construed as the affidavit filed by the secretary of the state concerned. He will be exposed to all actions in person.” PTI