The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Maharashtra government for not allocating funds for solid waste management projects in the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation and demanded an explanation for failing to abide by the rules.
The top court directed the government to file an affidavit mentioning a clear timeline for the allotment of funds for waste management projects. It also sought the details of local authorities that have fully complied with the solid waste management rules.
Stating that by not complying with the trash management, the Supreme Court said the government is contributing to the bad air quality of the city.
The top court came down heavily on the government for its earlier stand on non-availability of funds to implement waste management rules.
It demanded the government an explanation while pointing out that the air quality of Vasai-Virar was directly affected by non-implementation of waste management rules.
The court recorded there was no clear assurance in the affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, regarding when the money will be released for the projects.
The court also remarked a brazen stand was taken by the state, saying there were no funds for the project, which is contrary to the constitutional scheme.
On the last occasion, the top court questioned the stand taken in the affidavit filed by the Deputy Secretary, Urban Development Department, Mumbai.
The court said, “A very strange stand has been taken by the State Government that the two projects cannot be cleared due to non-availability of funds.”
The Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Mumbai, was directed to remain present before the court through video conference to explain the reasons for refusing to provide funds to a municipal corporation for implementing statutory rules.