The bench referred to the constitutional provisions

dealing with public health, sanitation and solid waste management and said that civic authorities were empowered to lay down norms to levy cess on users if they do not have sufficient resources to set up or run the CETPs.

The norms have to be finalised by March 31 of this year so that it can be made applicable in the next financial year, it said, adding that in case it is not done, then the respective state governments will have to bear the cost of running CETPs.

It, however, clarified that if municipal or other local bodies have sufficient funds, then they will not levy any charges.

The bench, in its order, said the secretaries of Urban Development Ministry or local bodies, as the case may be, would be accountable for ensuring compliance of its order.

The court also passed similar directions with regard to setting up of sewerage treatment plant (STP) to deal with waste, other than industrial.

"Simulataneously, we are of the view that malady of sewer should also be dealt accordingly. We, therefore, direct authorities to set up STPs within the same time-frame as expressed earlier," the bench said.

It further said "the information shall be furnished to the Central Ground Water Authority which shall evaluate the data and furnish it to the NGT bench concerned." The bench directed the state pollution control boards to make provision for "online real-time continuous monitoring system" to display emission level in the public domain on their portals.

Initially, the PIL was restricted to Gujarat but later its scope was widened by the apex court, which had granted the last opportunity to the states on January 16 to file their responses.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)