5.2.14

Upto 10 Crore fine for burning tyres !

Burning tyres, a favourite protest mode during agitations can now attract a fine of up to Rs.10 crore or imprisonment for up to three years. The western zone bench of the National Green Tribunal, Pune, has banned burning of tyres particularly in bulk in public places such as roads or near residential areas. It has directed the police in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa to ensure compliance to the order.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed in November last year by city-based Sahyog Trust and other advocates against the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Maharashtra state, on the hazardous impact of the toxic smoke that burning tyres produces on human beings as well as the environment. The order, which was passed recently, states that dereliction in the implementation of the directions will lead to penal action as mentioned in section 26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
The tribunal directed that its order should be circulated and its copy given to police authorities concerned including the director general of police of all the states, inspector general of police, the commissioners of police for due compliance. It also directed the MPCB to do its part to ensure proper compliance to the order.
Activists who had filed the plea with the tribunal said they were worried about the hazards fumes from burning tyres pose.
“We learnt from experts that burning tyres emit smoke that contains harmful gases and chemicals such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chromium, arsenic, zinc, barium, cobalt, copper, iron, aluminum, manganese and vanadium, which are hazardous to human beings as well as to the environment. It has been seen that whenever any political party or religious group initiates an agitation, they burn tyres,” said advocate Asim Sarode of Sahyog Trust.

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