Pune: National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s Western Zone Bench in Pune directed PMC, PMRDA and Bhugaon and Bhukum gram panchayats to repair and maintain broken chambers polluting Ramnadi within two months.Advocate Krunnal Gharre said that despite an NGT judgment directing the authorities to establish the necessary infrastructure to clean up Ramnadi last year, little work had been done on the ground. He subsequently filed an execution application before NGT.“During the hearing on Sept 28, we requested the tribunal to grant them two months with the intention of working collaboratively with the local bodies. At this stage, our priority has been to see actual work on the ground. Repairing the broken chambers and ensuring their proper maintenance were immediate and practical steps which could address a significant part of the pollution problem in Ramnadi,” said Gharre.NGT accepted the request and directed Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), PMRDA, Bhugaon Gram Panchayat and Bhukum Gram Panchayat to act accordingly.“If these basic issues were addressed properly, a substantial part of the pollution entering Ramnadi could be controlled. However, if meaningful action was not taken within the period granted by the tribunal, we would seek appropriate coercive measures at the next hearing on Nov 26,” he added.
