Bhubaneswar, July 23: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Angul district administration to identify an alternative dumping site within 30 days.

It has also asked the Angul Municipality to survey, explore and identify a suitable place that would not invite any objection from the public.

The NGT, in its previous order issued on March 15 last year, directed the municipality to remove garbage from ward Nos. 1 and 18 and file the compliance report.

But, the Angul Municipality informed the court that garbage could not be removed from those wards as villagers near the dumping site at Talamula Sasan had opposed garbage dumping in their area.

The municipality also informed the NGT that the district administration had not been able to provide them with any alternative sites for the purpose.

The tribunal, in its July 14 order, directed the Angul police superintendent to ensure that full protection was given to the civic body to prevent any untoward incidents.

Earlier, the Angul district collector had identified Talamula Sasan for disposing of waste and setting up a sewerage treatment plant.

The NGT had directed the administration to develop the land for suitable disposal of the solid waste.

The petition, filed by Angul-based lawyer Rabindra Prasad Patnaik, drew the tribunal's attention towards "mess in garbage disposal" in violation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules that had mandated every municipality to set up its own disposal facility within December 31, 2003.

"Twelve years passed, yet nothing has been done," said the petitioner's counsel Sankar Prasad Pani.

"Due to delay in completion of the dumping yard, the municipality is disposing of the waste in the middle of the town close to a residential colony and a bus stand, causing serious health hazards to the inhabitants," said the petition.

Acting upon the petition, the bench of the green tribunal, consisting of S.P. Wangdi and P.C. Mishra, directed the Angul Municipality to complete the construction of boundary wall within three months.

"The process to set up the solid waste management plant shall be initiated simultaneously with construction of the boundary wall, and the entire work to set up the plant and make it operational shall be completed within a period of 12 months," said the tribunal.

The NGT also asked the urban development secretary to provide the funds as projected by the municipality to build the plant.

The Angul Municipality was directed to file an interim report after three months. The municipality authorities said they would abide by the tribunal order, but they had not received the copy of the order yet.