Shivpuri Municipality Accused of Burning Discarded Pipes After NGT Order
Shivpuri Municipality is under fire for allegedly burning discarded GRP pipes after NGT orders to remove them.
The Shivpuri Municipality is facing severe criticism following allegations that it instead of following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandates, opted to burn discarded industrial pipes. The incident has sparked environmental concerns, and local residents are alarmed by the same.
The NGT Mandate and the Waste Problem
The controversy stems from the Sindh Jalvardhan Yojana, a project designed to transport water from the Madikheda Dam to Shivpuri city. While the project achieved its goal, it left behind a massive amount of discarded Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipes. These pipes were left scattered across roadsides, near agricultural fields, and even within the vicinity of the Madhav Tiger Reserve, creating an environmental hazard.
Taking note of the situation, the NGT Bhopal bench ordered the immediate removal of these pipes to restore thep environment. However, the rest of the story takes a turn from unexpected and environmental negligence negligence.
Black Smoke and Local Alarm
Local reports indicate that municipal workers, rather than transporting the pipes to a safe storage facility or following standard waste disposal protocols, gathered them large piles outside the trenching ground. They reportedly set the pipes on fire, resulting in thick plumes of black smoke that filled the sky, creating panic among the residents.
The situation escalated to such quickly that the fire brigade had to be dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze.
Investigation into Authorization
The incident has raises serious questions about who authorized the destruction of the pipes through burning—a practice that is known to be hazardous to the atmosphere. The municipality's approach to an order intended to protect the environment has ocorreu result in further pollution.
Official Response
"I had previously issued instructions for the pipes to be safely stored. I am currently investigating who set the fire and the reasons behind the action," stated Yashwant Rathore, the Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) of Shivpuri Municipality.
The municipality is now under scrutiny as it is wondering why environmental protocols were ignored and who is responsible for the action that turned a clean-up drive into a pollution event.