NGT raps Govt for Myntdu inaction

SHILLONG: The National Green Tribunal has told the Meghalaya Government that it had “hardly taken any action” to preserve and protect the Myntdu river in West Jaintia Hills.
The eastern zone bench of the Tribunal pulled up the State Government while hearing a petition by Sanjay Laloo in Kolkata on Thursday.
The Government filed its reply to the affidavits during the course of the hearing.
Amit Kumar, the counsel for the petitioner, told the Tribunal that there was a blatant disregard and violation of the NGT order by the State Government and hardly any action was taken because illegal encroachments, washing of clothes, sand and stone mining on the river bed are continuing in several places.
BP Todi, Advocate General of Meghalaya, submitted that a comprehensive affidavit was filed by the chief secretary pointing out various actions taken.
On this, the Tribunal observed that “the state of Meghalaya has always been saying that we have issued orders or will issue orders but there is hardly any action on the ground”.
The Tribunal added that the applicant will point out in an affidavit as to whether the State has actually implemented the orders.
It directed Laloo to file a detailed report on compliances and the matter will come up for hearing on July 26.
Laloo later said the Additional Chief Secretary in charge of Forest and Environment and also the Urban Affairs Department are yet to wake up and act on the orders of the Tribunal.
He added that the reform proposal that he submitted for constituting an environment protection and preservation policy was rejected by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council as well as the State Government.