from The Indian Express' Ahmedabad edition of Sept 6
CONSTRUCTION of residential complexes close to hazardous waste treatment facilities in the Vatva and Naroda industrial areas ofAhmedabad has evoked sharp reactions from both the Central and state governments,with the latter seeking cooperation from the municipal authorities on the issue.
As per national guidelines,a radius of 500 metres around hazardous waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) has to be maintained as bufferzone because of possible dangers like leakage of toxic substances.
While the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) had issued criminal notices against the developers ofthese residential complexes several months ago, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) recently enquired with the GPCB about the status of the case.
But the stage of these constructions —officials say many people have either moved in or bought flats —has made reaching a final decision difficult for the authorities.
“The main problem is that many people have already moved in or bought flats in these residential complexes.We might have to take a considerate view because these people did not know about the environmental provisions. That has made reaching a decision very difficult,”said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
Officials from the GPCB and the state Department of Environment and Forests(DoEF) said meetings have been held with the civic body and a decision would be taken within a week.
The inquiry follows a series of letters sent by Vadodara-based environmentalist Rohit Prajapati to the Union Minister, ministry officials,the state environment department and pollution control boards at both the central and state levels.
Prajapati had threatened approaching the judiciary if action was not taken.
The DoEF recently said it has issued notices to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation under the Environment Protection Act,1986 regarding these constructions.
“This issue istaken up very seriously bythis department and it isdecided to have further jointmeetings with all concernedauthorities,” the DoEF said in a letter.
important observations and questions:
1. Would the people who have already moved in value their money or their lives more? or in another way, would they take the possibility of a hazardous waste accident seriously? Have they learned from, in the extreme case, incidents like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy?
2. It was quite clear that when Prajapati first wrote these letters, these complexes were still empty. Perhaps a few people had bought flats, but the fact is, at least the one in Vatva was uninhabited. I saw that with my own eyes.
3. Since guidelines require a buffer zone to be maintained, is the operator of the waste treatment facility responsible for not having demarcated that? or is the govt responsible for not having made sure the zone was maintained? Or still another question, were the builders to be blamed for not checking first these guidelines when they could well see the treatment plants well before they started construction? Should the people who bought flats have been more careful before investing their hard earned money?
