The Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association (NEFOWA) has knocked the doors of National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the disputed landfill at Sector-123 by filing to applications on Thursday.
The first application sought to make a party in the case on behalf of the residents of Noida who have been affected by the shifting of the dumping site to Sector-123.
The second application requested reconsideration of the NGT order dated on May 29 and also sought a direction to the Noida Authority to dump the garbage at the dumping site in Astoli village in Greater Noida instead of Sector-123.
According to the residents, they were left with no other option rather than moving to the court to restrict the Authority from dumping the city’s waste at the newly built dump yard in Sector-123.
“As per the first application, we want a party in the case which will be speaking on behalf of us. We request the NGT to reconsider the orders dated on May 29 and want them to issue direction regarding the construction of the landfill in Astoli village of Greater Noida instead of Sector-123,” said Abhishek Kumar, President of NEFOWA. Noida News
On May 29, the NGT had ordered to stop dumping of waste at Sector-54 after hearing a petition filed by resident welfare associations of sectors 22, 23, 53, 55 and 56. The order also stated that the waste should now be dumped at the Sector-123 site. When the dumping started in Sector-123, people started protesting against it.
NEFOWA in its application has urged that since Noida has already taken environmental clearance for the municipal solid waste management and processing facility at Astoli way back in May 2016, there is no point in making a temporary dumping site in Sector-123 in violation of the provisions of the solid waste management rules, 2016.
According to the solid waste management rules, 2016, a landfill site should be situated at a distance of 100 meters from a riverbed, and 200 meters from water bodies, highways, habitations, public parks and water wells.
However, Rajesh Singh, the officer on special duty of Noida Authority, said that they have always followed the NGT order and rules. “The contempt of court case filed by the residents is not the reason behind the start of dumping at Sector-123. We already had plans to start dumping at Sector-123.”
The NGT had issued contempt of court notice against the Noida Authority for continuing dumping at Sector-54. The next hearing is scheduled for July 19.
