Kolkata: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3,500 crore on West Bengal for failing solid and liquid waste management. The green bench said that the West Bengal government has not taken many initiatives in giving priority to concrete and sewage treatment plants in urban areas.
A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed that remedial steps should be taken within six months. The bench, in an order passed on September 1, ordered the state government to pay compensation of Rs 3,500 crore.
The NGT said that in the budget 2022-23 of the West Bengal government, a provision was made to spend about Rs 12818 crore on matters related to urban development and municipalities. But the state government did not show any seriousness in this direction. According to the National Green Agency, urban areas of West Bengal generate 2758 million sewage per day while the treatment capacity through 44 sewage treatment plants is only 1505.85 MLD. Therefore, only 1268 MLD of sewage is treated and 1490 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
