NGT imposes fines of over Rs 79,000 crore on states and UTs for different violations in 2022-23

The government informed the Rajya Sabha that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed fines on states and Union Territories (UTs) for non-compliance of municipal solid waste management (SWM) rules and other environmental violations. Tamil Nadu faced the highest fine, followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Delhi, and Rajasthan. The SWM Rules, 2016 provide the statutory framework for solid waste management. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors water quality at thousands of locations and ambient air quality at numerous stations across the country.