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The Supreme Court (SC), on February 22, 2023, directed the Centre to file an affidavit specifying steps it has taken so far to implement the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
The apex court sought details on the steps taken towards the abolition/demolition of dry latrines. It asked about the status of dry latrines and safai karamcharies (sanitation workers) in cantonment boards and railways.
The SC also asked the Centre to file the details on the state-wise set-up of municipal corporations and the nature of equipment deployed by such bodies to mechanise sewage cleaning.
The court directed the Union government to evaluate the feasibility of developing internet-based solutions for real-time tracking of sewage-related deaths and action taken towards payment of compensation as well as rehabilitation of families.
There are gaps in the management of solid and liquid waste in Gujarat, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said on February 23, citing data submitted by the state’s chief secretary.
Such a gap has increased after the last consideration. Thus, there is no benefit in considering mere future promises which have been breached in the past, the tribunal stated.
“On the pattern of compensation awarded in respect of other states, compensation of Rs 2,100 crore may be liable to be levied for the past violations,” it added.
However, as the statement of the chief secretary said a sum of Rs 2,100 crore will be voluntarily credited immediately to a ringfenced account to bridge the gaps in waste management, it may not be necessary to direct levy of compensation on the basis of polluter pays principle, the NGT added.
The tribunal asked the state government to devise a strategy to utilise the byproducts arising from the biomining of legacy waste within one month. Community compost pits should be properly maintained to ensure that the compost produced is fully used, the NGT added.
The SC, on February 21, directed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) to file a progress report on the construction status of an alternate water body.
HMWSSB had built a sewage treatment plant (STP) within the Lingam Kunta tank, a freshwater tank in the Rangareddy district.
In 2021, the NGT had directed HMWSSB to create an alternate water body with twice the extent occupied by STP to ensure water supply.
Construction of the alternate water body is in progress and is being monitored by the committee appointed by the NGT, the report said.
HMWSSB informed SC that the project would likely be completed by October 31, 2023. The SC asked the committee nominated by the NGT to file the status report by the first week of November 2023.