Greater Noida suspends junior engineer for allowing burning of crop residue

BANNED ACTIVITY: Action comes after National Green Tribunal warns top Greater Noida and Noida officials

The Greater Noida authority on Thursday suspended a junior engineer and blacklisted a private contractor, besides imposing a fine, for burning leaves and dry bushes in Surajpur.

Greater Nodia residents can file a complaint about open garbage burning in their locality on helpline number 0120-2326335.(HT Photo)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had summoned the chief executive officers (CEO) of Noida and Greater Noida authorities for not acting against offenders on Wednesday.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned open burning of waste and crop residue, to mitigate air pollution. While imposing the ban in April 2015, NGT had also asked the civic authorities and state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to “immediately” create awareness about the ill-effects of burning waste in the open.

CEO of the Greater Noida authority, Deepak Agarwal, blacklisted the contractor for failing to contain air pollution, following an inspection. “My team and I inspected four areas — Surajpur, Jaitpur, Knowledge Park-III and Knowledge Park-IV. In Surajpur, we found bushes and green leaves were being burnt. We used a fire tender to douse the fire,” Agarwal said.

“We suspended junior engineer AS Zaidi. Also, we blacklisted the contractor and imposed ₹50,000 fine. Blacklisting means the contractor will not be able to get a government contract for some time,” Agarwal said.

Four teams, led by the additional CEO, KK Singh, also inspected construction sites to enforce the ban.

Residents said they often witness burning of leaves on vacant plots, but the Greater Noida authority fails to act on it. “I have seen gardeners and sweepers burning waste in the open without any hesitation. The need of the hour is for the authority to direct its sanitary and horticulture staff not to burn waste at all. The top officials should also take strict action against the staff found violating the order,” Alok Singh, a member of active citizens team (Act), a civil welfare group in Greater Noida, said.

Authority officials said that the offenders will be fined ₹50,000-₹2 lakh. Officials will continue visiting construction sites, residential, commercial and industrial areas to check open burning.

Greater Noida residents can file a complaint on open garbage burning through the helpline, 0120-2326335.