The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the massive fire which has erupted at Bandhwari landfill in Gurugram.
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 24.04.2024.
The news item discloses that the combustion of methane gas and sparking may have caused the blaze and that there is a higher concentration of gas at the landfill.
It appears to the Bench that there was lack of precautionary measures to ensure that such incident does not take place.
The news item also discloses that this is the fourth fire incident reported at Bandhwari landfill in April. Earlier also the landfill had witnessed blazes on April 6, 7 and 17.
The report mentions that a thick haze has engulfed the villages around Bandhwari, especially Mangar and such fire in landfill site is a threat to biodiversity and poses health hazard to citizens of NCR.
It also discloses that leftover, after processing of the legacy waste, is indiscriminately dumped in surrounding villages which is contaminating the soil.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to the compliance of environmental norms particularly with respect to prevention of fire and landfill gas management.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
(1). Haryana State Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary.
(2). RO, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chandigarh.
(3). District Magistrate, Gurugram.
(4). Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Gurugram.
(5). Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas through its Chairman.
(6). Central Pollution Control Board through its Member Secretary.
The Bench issued notice to the respondents and listed the matter on 18.07.2024.