Green Tribunal directs TN government to take rules to grassroots

Chennai: In an interim order that upholds the provisions of new solid waste management (SWM) rules 2016, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the state government to take the rules to grassroots.

A Bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S Rao directed Tamil Nadu government to provide translated copies (in Tamil) of SWM rules to all civic bodies, village panchayats, town panchayats, municipalities and corporations.

“ The court will monitor the compliance of the rules. The direction will help the common man comprehend the recently framed SWM rules 2016,”counsel for the municipalities, Abdul Salem told DC.

Asking the civic bodies to identify the places for waste segregation as per the SWM rules 2016, the Bench asked the district administration along with Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to coordinate the work.

According to TNPCB counsel, Yasmeen Ali, the Bench had asked the department to team up with Central Pollution Control board, civic bodies and urban development board to frame a policy. “Three bag kit to segregate - biodegradable, recyclable and non biodegradable waste-should be supplied to households.  Waste pickers should be identified before framing the policy,” the Bench said.

Stressing the importance of sensitising the public on new rules, the tribunal has asked the local authorities to collect fees from waste generators for training waste pickers. Mandating a compost yard to manage waste, the Bench opposed dumping waste in water bodies, while asking TNPCB to monitor the same.