LMC imposes Rs 50 lakh challans on 4 officials for Gomti river pollution

LUCKNOW: After NGT’s verdict which penalised Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for garbage dumping and littering around Gomti river in Lucknow with Rs 2 crores, the corporation has incriminated four officers for the deteriorating state of the river, fining each with Rs 50 lakh fine.

The four officials are S P Singh, Chief Engineer (civil), Ram Nagina Tripathi, Chief Engineer (electromechanical), Rajesh Gupta, Zonal In-charge (3) and Ambi Bisht, Zonal In-charge (6). Indramani Tripathi, Commissioner, LMC, said, “Notices have been sent to the four officers. The monitory committee has recommended the NGT Delhi for realising the fine. If the NGT will confirm that the Rs 2 crore fine should be collected from the officials, we will collect the amount. For now, we have given three days to these officials to clean the area and reply on why shouldn’t we slap a fine of Rs 50 lakh each on them.” The NGT had directed LMC to clear the garbage from the banks and adjacent areas of the river a month ago. Seeing improper action on its previously issued directions, the NGT then proceeded to fine the civic body of Rs 2 crores.