Gauhati High Court directs government to expedite site selection for waste management project

'Since any delay in implementation of the project would have the potential of causing environmental hazards, the State Government is directed to expedite the matter of selecting the agency as well as the site for implementation of the waste management project'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam Government to expedite the process of selecting the agency as well as the site for the implementation of the waste management project.

Pradip Baruah, a resident of Akashinagar, Chandrapur in Kamrup (metro) district, had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL/40/2021) regarding the selection of an appropriate site for dumping of solid waste in respect of Guwahati city and surrounding areas. A Division Bench of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Manish Choudhury observed, "The same has been continued at present in Chandrapur as well as in Housefed land in Boragaon area. Though there has been some objections as regards the selection of site by local people on various grounds, including non-clearance by the concerned Forest Department or by the Pollution Control Board etc., these are issues which can certainly be examined after completion of pleadings."

The Advocate General for the State submitted to the court that "for executing the project at the appropriate location, the Government has already initiated the e-Tender process for selecting the agency to implement the project and would like to submit a detailed affidavit indicating the place(s) where the solid waste project will be ultimately established". The Advocate General sought 30 days to initiate the process.

The court listed the matter for hearing on November 10, 2021, and on that date, "this Court will examine as to the steps taken by the State authorities for implementing the waste management project which conforms to all the relevant requirements of law".

"Since any delay in implementation of the project would have the potential of causing environmental hazards, the State Government is directed to expedite the matter of selecting the agency as well as the site for implementation of the waste management project, about which this Court hopes, the authorities will inform this Court on the next date by filing necessary affidavit in this regard," the court order stated.

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