The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal at New Delhi has directed the CPCB to file a report on action taken before 16^th October 2019 in the matter of 900,000 tonnes of hazardous waste being imported.

The coram of Chairperson Justice Goel, Judicial Member Justice Wangdi and Expert Member Nangin Nanda was considering “remedial action against cheap waste paper and the road sweep waste import for firing of brick kilns” in Amit Jain v Union of India.

Central Pollution Control Board issued directions in April 2019 but the issue of transboundary movement of hazardous and other waste is to be dealt with by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

The Tribunal noted that its orders in Rajiv Narayan v UOI, dated 26^th August 2019 restricting import of hazardous waste and in CPCB v State of Andaman & Nicobar dated 22^nd July 2019 on plastic waste management have not been executed and Amit Jain’s application pertains to the same issues.

An earlier report dated 28^th June 2019 acknowledges “no proper mechanism for plastic waste management which was being dumped in open or burnt in brick kilns resulting in pollution.” Thus the Tribunal directed further action to be taken as the report was unsatisfactory and speaking of “inadequate action.” According to the Tribunal, CPCB being a statutory regulator is empowered to take up the matter of illegal import with concerned authorities.

The matter will be next heard on 16^th October.

–India Legal Bureau

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