Disposed

Khildev Singh Rawat vs

NGT9 Sept 2024Original Application No. 225/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The NGT disposed of an application challenging the site selection for a solid waste disposal facility in Karanprayag. The Tribunal found no contravention of distance criteria in the SWM Rules, 2016 but directed the authority to obtain clearances and comply with all statutory requirements.

What did the court decide?

No interim relief; directed respondent to comply with all siting criteria and obtain requisite clearances, consents, and NOCs before construction.

Khildev Singh Rawat vs — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2024)

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Item No.06

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Court No. 2

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI

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Original Application No.225/2024

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Khildev Singh Rawat Applicant

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Versus

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State of Uttarakhand & Ors. Respondents

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Date of hearing: 09.09.2024

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUDHIR AGARWAL, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER

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Applicant(s): None

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Respondent(s): Mr. MukeshVerma and Ms. VatsalaTripathi, Advocates for UKPCB (through VC) Mr. Kamal Kumar Pandey, Advocate for R-4 with Mr. Surendra Kumar, EO, Nagar Pallika Karanprayag (through VC)

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ORDER

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Khildev Singh Rawat and Mahipal Singh, Adyaksh and Mahamantri, respectively of Kapiri Vikas Sangharsh Simiti sent a letter dated 13.08.2023 whereupon this Original Application was registered in exercise of suo-moto jurisdiction in view of law laid by Supreme Court in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai Versus Ankita Sinha and Others, (2022) 13 SCC 401 , under Sections 14 and 15 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (hereinafter referred to as ‘ NGT Act, 2010 ’).

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Complainants have said that Nagar Palika Parishad, Karanprayag, District Chamoli, a local body, is establishing a Solid Waste Disposal Centre at a motorable road of Movani Ghadere (springs) at Karanprayag Nanisain Road in utter violation of siting criteria provided in

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environmental laws; site is just about 100 meters from Pindar river and entire leachate will get discharged in the said river polluting the same. The site is also in rural area and likely to cause environmental damage and health hazard to local residents.

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Cognizance was taken by Tribunal on 09.05.2024 and after being prima-facie satisfied that a substantial question relating to environment out of implementation of enactments specified in Schedule 1 of NGT Act, 2010 has arisen, Tribunal proceeded to implead following as respondents:

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(i) State of Uttarakhand through Principal Secretary, Urban Development, Government of Uttarakhand,

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(ii) Member Secretary, Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and,

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(iii) District Magistrate, Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

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Notices were issued to respondents requiring them to file their responses.

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Tribunal also found it appropriate to obtain a factual report and constituted a Joint Committee comprisingrepresentatives of Integrated Regional Office, MoEF&CC, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and; and, District Magistrate, Chamoli, Uttarakhand.

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Pursuant to above order dated 09.05.2024, an inspection Report dated 29.06.2024 has been filed by Joint Committee stating that District Magistrate, Chamoli, for Solid Waste Management, has allotted land measuring 0.400 hectares at Khata No. 46, Khasra No. 1342, with a total area of 5.504 hectares Simli, Village Dimmat. The distances from various sites, given in the report are as under:

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S. N.	Criteria	Criteria Distance	Available Distance and Direction from proposed SLF site
1.	Distance from nearest River	100 meters	Pinder River 0.14 km in S directionAlaknanda River 2.2 km in NNW direction
2.	Distance from nearestpond	200 meter	No pond near site
3.	Flood Plain	No landfill shall be constructed within a 100-yearfloodplain	None
4.	distance from nearest Highway (NH)	200 meters	NH 109-0.2 km in S direction Badrinath Highway NH-7.16 km in NNW direction
5.	Distance from nearest habitation	200 meters	Tauli Daduli Villages 0.35 km in S direction
6.	Distance from nearest Public Parks	200 meters	No park available
7.	Distance from nearest water supply wells	200 meters	No water supply well available
8.	Critical Habitat Area	No landfill within the Critical habitat area. It is defined as the area in which 1 or more endangered species live.	No critical habitat exists in study area.
9.	Distance from nearest strip/Airports. Airbase	10 km. 20 km	Gauchar Austrip 7.50 in WNW direction
10.	Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ)	Should not be sited	Not applicable

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Report further says that for construction of Solid Waste Collection Center, tender process has been started and after taking all necessary steps in accordance with the rules, further action shall be taken but, presently no construction work has commenced, and an application for grant of prior Environmental Clearance (hereinafter referred to as ‘EC ’) has been submitted. Observations made in the Joint Committee report are reproduced as under:

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दिन ांक 14.06.2024 कोदनरीक्षण मेंप य गय दक प्रश्नगत् स्थल पर नगर प दलक पररषिकणणप्रय गनगरीयठोसअपदिष्टदनस्त रणसुदिध प्रस्त दितहै , दिसक दििरणदनम्न नुस रहै -

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दिल दधक री महोिय चमोली के क य णलय पत् ांक सांख्य - 681/ छब्बीस - 16 (2021-22) गोपेश्वरदिन ांक 24 निम्बर ,2022 केद्व र ठोसअपदिष्टप्रबन्धन योिन केदलये ग्र म दिम्मत र ० उ ० दन ० क्षेत्दसमली कीख ० ख सां ०- 46 के खसर

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सां ०- 1342 रकि 5.504 है ० भूदम मध्ये 0.400 हैभूदमइसदनक य केन म स्वीकृदत प्रि न की गई है। ( सांलग्नक ) भूदम के दनिेि ांक - अक्ष ांि - 30.253721

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िेि न्तर - 79.235800

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ठोसअपदिष्टप्रबन्धन 2016 केम नकोनुस रचयदनतभूदमक दििरणदनक य द्व र पय णिरणप्रभ िआांकलन ( IMA) कीस्वीकृदतप्र प्तदकयेि नेहेतुपत् ांक सांख्य - 1119/ दिदिध / न ० प ० क ०/ 2022-2023 दिन क 03.03.2023 के द्व र दनदिि प्रक दित की गई। दिसमें JBBTechnocrat Pvt. Ltd. की दनदिि की धनर दि न्यूनतम रू ० 8.50 ल ख होने पर स्वीकृत की गयी। दनक य द्व र अपने पत् सांख्य - 08/ न ० प ० परर ०/ दनम ण क य णिेि / 202324/ कणणप्रय ग / दिन ांक 03 अप्रैल 2023 को क य णिेि ि रीदकय गय । ( सांलग्न )

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नगर प दलक केअनुस र JBB Technocrat Pvt. Ltd. फम णद्व र योिन केदनम ण सेहोनेि लेपय णिरणीयप्रभ िमूल् ांकनकीि ांचहेतुसमीपस्थक्षेत्ोां में मृि परीक्षण / ि यु परीक्षण / िल परीक्षण एिां ध्वदन परीक्षण दकय गय । म हअगस्त 2023 मेंदनक य केठोस अपदिष्टप्रबन्धन योिन स्थल क र ज्य दििेषज्ञमूल् ांकन सदमदत ( SEAC) द्व र दनरीक्षण दकय गय । तत्पश्च त् दनक य को Term of Reference (TOR) ि री कर दिय गय । दनक य द्व र फमण कोआदतदि तक रूपये 3.00 ल ख क भुगत न दकय ि चुक है। फमणद्व र िनसुनि ईहेतुिर फ्ट EIA उत्तर खण्डप्रिूषणदनयत्णबोिणमेंिम करदिय गय है।

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दनक य द्व र पररयोिन स्थल पर 95 पेडोांके कट न की अनुमदत हेतु िन दिभ ग सेभूदमहस्त ांतरण दकयेि नेहेतु प्रस्त ितैय र दकय ि रह है। ठोस अपदिष्टप्रबन्धनहेतुपय णिरणीयप्रभ ि क मूल् ांकन ( EIA) कीस्वीकृदत ति पय णिरणएिां िन मांत् लय द्व र 95 पेडोांकी कट न कीस्वीकृदत केउपर न्त पररयोिन स्थलपरक यणप्र रम्भदकय ि येग ।

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ितणम न में सांच दलत पांचपुदलय के दनकट स्थस्थत िस्थपांग िोन की भूदम क हस्त ांतरण दकये ि ने क म मल उत्तर खण्डम नि अदधक र आयोग मेंि ि सांख्य - 595/35/3/2019 लांदबत है। दिसमें अदधि सी अदधक री नगर

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प दलक पररषिकणणप्रय ग को आग मी 04 िुल ई , 2024 को क यों की अद्यतनस्थस्थदतसेअिगतकर नेकेदनिेिप्र प्तहुएहैं। ( सांलग्न )

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प्रस्त दित स्थल िूरी सम्बन्धी म नकोां में से Air Strip के अदतररक्त सभी म नकोांकोपूणणकरत है। गौचर स्थस्थत AirStrip कीहि ईिूरी 7.5 दकमी 0 है , दिसहेतु अन पदत्तकेदलयेनगर प दलक द्व र Air Strip Authority को पत्प्रेदषतदकय गय ।

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प्रस्त दितस्थलकीब उांिरीिॉलसेएकबरस तीन ल दृदष्टगोचरहै।

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प्रस्त दित स्थल से 200 मीटर की पररदध में कोई मस्थिर नहीांहै। परन्तु दिक यतकत णद्व र अिगत कर य गय दकप्रस्त दित स्थल मेंसडक म गणसे ध दमणक य त् दनकलतीहै। उक्तकेसम्बन्धमेंनगर प दलक द्व र 04 मीटर ऊांच ईकीिी ० आई ० फेस्थसांगिॉलप्रस्त दितकीगयीहै।

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ितणम न तक प्रस्त दित स्थल पर दनम ण क यण प्र रम्भ नहीां दकय गय है , पय णिरणीयस्वीकृदतहेतुआिेिनदकय गय है।

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ENGLISHTRANSLATION BY TRIBUNAL :

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During inspection on 14.06.2024, it was found that Municipal Council, Karnaprayag has proposed urban solid waste disposal facility at the site in question, the details of which are as follows:

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Vide letter number-681/26-16 (2021-22) Gopeshwar dated 24th November, 2022 of District Magistrate Chamoli, Khasra number-1342 of Khas no. -46 of village Dimmat R.U.N. area Simli, out of 5.504 hectares of land, 0.400 hectares of land has been approved in thename of this body for solid waste management scheme. (Enclosed)Land coordinates- Latitude - 30.253721, Longitude - 79.235800

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Details of selected land as per the standards of Solid Waste Management 2016, Tender was published by the body for obtaining approval of Environmental ImpactAssessment (IMA) vide letter no.1119/Miscellaneous/NP/2022-2023 dated 03.03.2023 inwhich the minimum tender amount of Rs. 8.50 lakhs of JBB Technocrat Pvt. Ltd. wasaccepted. The body issued the work order vide 08 Nagar Palika Parishad Construction Work Order / 2023-24/Karanprayag dated 03 April 2023. (Enclosed)

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According to the Nagar Palika, JBB Technocrat Pvt. Ltd. firm conducted soil testing / airtesting / water testing and noise testing in the nearby areas to check the environmentalimpact assessment due to the implementation of the scheme. In the month of August2023, the solid waste management plan site of the body was inspected by the StateExpert Appraisal Committee (SEAC). Thereafter, Term of Reference (TOR) was issuedto the body. Till date, the body has paid Rs 3.00 lakh to the firm. The draft EIA has beensubmitted by the firm to the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board for public hearing.

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The body is preparing a proposal for transfer of land from the forest department forpermission to cut 95 trees at the project site. Work will start at the project site afterapproval of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for solid waste management andpermission for cutting 95 trees by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

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At present, the matter of transfer of land of dumping zone located near operational Panchpulia is pending in Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission as case no.595/35/3/2019 in which the Executive Officer of Nagar Palika Parishad Karnaprayag has received instructions to inform about the updated status of the works on 04 July, 2024.(Enclosed)

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The proposed site fulfills all the distance related standards except Air Strip. The aerialdistance of the Air Strip located at Gauchar is 7.5 km. A letter was sent by the NagarPalika to the Air Strip Authority for no objection of the same.

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A storm drain is visible from the boundary wall of the proposed site.

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There is no temple within 200 meters of the proposed site. But the complainant informedthat a religious procession is carried out by road in the proposed site. In relation to theabove, a GI fencing wall of height of 04 meters has been proposed by the Nagar Palika.

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The construction work has not started at the proposed site till date. Application forenvironmental clearance has been submitted .

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In view of above Report, Tribunal impleaded Nagar Palika Parishad, Karnprayag as respondent 4 vide order dated 03.07.2024 and issued notices giving time to file its reply.

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Pursuant thereto, respondent 4 has filed reply/response dated 27.08.2024 stating that no construction work has started on proposed site till date. Respondent 4 required suitable land for the purpose of management of Solid Waste in accordance with rules which was allotted by District Magistrate and it fulfills the siting criteria under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as ‘ SWM Rules, 2016 ’). Land has been allotted by administration after thorough deliberations and due consideration of relevant rules. Karanprayag is at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Pindarand there is gross scarcity of suitable and excessable non-forest land. No suitable land was available within Parishad area while daily generation of garbage in the area of Nagar Palika Parishad Karanprayag is about 2.5 tons which requires process and disposal in a regular manner. Respondent 4 has proceeded to set up the above site in accordance with law and has applied for grant of prior EC which is in process. Public hearing was held on 05.08.2024 and process of grant of EC is under consideration before concerned authorities.

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Learned Counsel appearing for respondent 4, during course of arguments, drew our attention to Schedule I (A) (vii) of SWM Rules, 2016. Schedule I(A)(vii) which deals with ‘Criteria for site selection’ andreads as under:

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“ SCHEDULE I

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[see rule 15 (w),(zi), 16 (1) (b) (e), 16 (4)] Specifications for Sanitary Landfills

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(A) Criteria for site selection.-

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(vii) The landfill site shall be 100 meter away from river, 200 meter from a pond, 200 meter from Highways, Habitations, Public Parks and water supply wells and 20 km away from Airports or Airbase. However, in a special case, landfill site may be set up within a distance of 10 and 20 km away from the Airport/Airbase after obtaining no objection certificate from the civil aviation authority/ Air force as the case may be. The Landfill site shall not be permitted within the flood plains as recorded for the last 100 years, zone of coastal regulation, wetland, Critical habitat areas, sensitive eco-fragile areas.”

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It is submitted that distances from various places is in due conformity of distances mentioned in (vii) (K) of Schedule I of SWM Rules, 2016 and on this aspect, there is no violation. It is further submitted that process has started but no construction has taken place and respondent 4 shall comply and observe all the requirements of SWM Rules, 2016 in setting up of above project.

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Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (hereinafter referred to as ‘ UKPCB ’) has also filed a report vide email dated 06.09.2024stating that for setting up of Solid Waste Processing and Disposal Facility, Nagar Palika Parishad, Karanprayag has submitted application for grant of prior EC under Environment Impact Assessment Notification dated 14.09.2006 and it is pending for consideration wherein the stage of public hearing has already completed in as much as public hearing was conducted on 08.08.2024 at village Dimmat, District Chamoli. However, from the annexureto the saidreport, we find that public hearing actually has been held on 05.08.2024 at 11:00 am and there appears to be some typing mistakes with regard to date in Para 4 of report.

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Be that as it may, since ex-facie , we do not find that distances from various places contravene the requirement of sitting criteria under Schedule I (A)(vii) of SWM Rules, 2016, there is no occasion to interfere in the process of establishment of Solid Waste Processing and Disposal

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Facility at the place in question. However, we clarify that respondent 4 shall comply with all requirements including siting and other criteria in setting up above facility in accordance with SWM Rules, 2016 and also obtain all requisite Consents, Clearances and No Objection Certificates from the concerned Statutory Authorities in accordance with law before proceeding in the matter or at the construction or operational phases as applicable.

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With the above observations/directions, this Original Application is disposed of.

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Sudhir Agarwal, JM

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Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM

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September 09, 2024 Original Application No.225/2024 M

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Khildev Singh Rawat vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Khildev Singh Rawat vs

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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