NGT Directives Unheeded, Mango Struggles with Waste Piles
Key Points:
- Mango MLA urges dumping waste at Tata Steel’s Bara Complex.
- NGT instructed Sonari dump cleanup by December 2024.
- Waste piles remain unresolved, posing environmental risks.
JAMSHEDPUR – Mango MLA Saryu Roy has criticized the district administration’s inaction over waste disposal in Mango. He suggested dumping Mango Municipal Corporation’s waste at Tata Steel’s Bara Complex, a practice already implemented for JNAC.
Roy, in a detailed statement, outlined the history of waste management in the region. Previously, waste from JNAC and Mango was dumped at Sonari’s Marine Drive area, causing significant environmental hazards. Following a public interest lawsuit filed by K.S. Upadhyay, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) intervened in April 2023, directing the administration to clean the Sonari dump and extinguish ongoing fires.
NGT’s Cleanup Directives
In its April 2023 ruling, the NGT mandated the district administration to remove accumulated waste at Sonari and mitigate the dump’s environmental impact. The administration allocated ₹4 crore for the cleanup, appointing an agency to execute the task. However, as Roy pointed out, little progress was made over the following 18 months, prompting further intervention by the NGT in December 2024.
“Despite clear instructions from the NGT, the administration showed no urgency. Only under repeated pressure was JNAC’s waste moved to Bara Complex, while Mango’s situation remained unresolved,” Roy stated.
Environmental and Health Risks
The Sonari dumping site, located within 100 meters of a river and 200 meters of residential areas, violated multiple environmental safety norms. Fires at the site had severe repercussions on air quality and public health, with the administration failing to address these concerns effectively.
As waste accumulation worsened in Mango, residents faced increasing hygiene and environmental risks. Roy emphasized that the administration’s lack of action had left the region grappling with a growing waste crisis, with no concrete solution in sight.
Call for Immediate Action
Roy called for immediate measures, urging the district administration to include Mango’s waste in Tata Steel’s Bara Complex arrangement. He also highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in addressing public grievances. “The administration’s inability to act swiftly reflects poorly on its priorities,” he remarked.
The MLA’s criticism underscores the need for a sustainable waste management solution that ensures public welfare and environmental protection.
