NGT imposes over Rs 2,000 crore fine on Punjab government for violating environment norms

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 2,080 crore on Punjab and noted that the state had not taken any steps to tackle the problem of solid and liquid municipal waste management.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 2,080 crore on Punjab and noted that the state government had not taken any steps to tackle the problem of solid and liquid municipal waste management in the past few years.

The tribunal has been monitoring the implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules and the Water Act across states in India since 2018.

In the last three weeks, the NGT has imposed environmental compensation penalties on Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan.

While the Rajasthan government was slapped with a Rs 3,000 crore fine for failing to implement waste management mechanisms, the tribunal imposed fines of Rs 12,000 crore on Maharashtra and Rs 3,500 crore on West Bengal for the violation of environmental norms.

Taking up the implementation issue in Punjab, the NGT in an order passed on September 22 noted that no action was taken despite multiple orders from the bench.

Meanwhile, the tribunal was informed that the state would be setting out timelines for projects to set up sewage treatment plants over the next few years.

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