National Green Tribunal
Sarat Chandra vs State Of Odisha Through Chief Secretary on 31 July, 2024
Item No.03 Court No.1
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
EASTERN ZONE BENCH, KOLKATA
(THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING WITH HYBRID MODE)
Original Application No.56/2024/EZ
(Earlier O.A. No.19/2024/PB)
Sarat Chandra & Ors. Applicant(s)
Versus
State of Odisha & Ors. Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 31.07.2024
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. AMIT STHALEKAR, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE DR. ARUN KUMAR VERMA, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant(s) : None
For Respondent(s) : Mr. Anand Prakash Das, ASC for R-1&4 (in Virtual Mode),
Mr. Rajib Ray, Advocate for R-2 (in Virtual Mode),
Ms. Papiya Banerjee Bihani, Adv. for R-3 (in Virtual Mode)
ORDER
1. Affidavit dated 28.06.2024 has been filed on behalf of the Respondent No.3, Odisha State Pollution Control Board; the same is taken on record.
2. Along with this affidavit, the Inspection Report has been filed. It appears from the Inspection Report that Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has taken a policy decision of processing waste generated in a ward inside the same ward. The Inspection Report however, does not disclose any siting criteria for setting up of Micro Composting Centre (MCC).
3. The Inspection Report indicates that no authorization from State Pollution Control Board is required for such units if volume of the waste is not exceeding 5 MT per day. However, the Report observed that Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation needs to have a Site- specific SOP for this type of MCCs situated near residential areas 1 and need to develop emergency plan to accommodate waste generated during the monsoon period (almost 4 months) as it is apprehended to be a challenging month to get wastes dry and composted as per schedule.
4. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board is directed to file fresh affidavit within three weeks showing which actions have been taken regarding Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)/siting criteria for setting up of Micro Composting Centre. It should also specify whether Micro Composting Centre in question is SOP/siting criteria compliant and if not then any alternative site has been identified and other necessary actions have been taken or not.
5. Let the said affidavit be filed within three weeks.
6. List on 17.09.2024.
..................................... B. Amit Sthalekar, JM ............................................. Dr. Arun Kumar Verma, EM July 31, 2024, Original Application No.56/2024/EZ (Earlier O.A. No.19/2024/PB) MN 2