New Delhi, March 24 (IANS): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all the states and union territories to constitute an environment monitoring cell to ensure compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed environment monitoring cells to be set up in the office of chief secretaries of the states and union territories within one month from March 23.

"Any continued failure will result in liability of every Local Body to pay compensation from 01.04.2020 till compliance," the order stated.

The compensation will be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which will spend the money "on the restoration of the environment".

The bench also comprising Justices Sheo Kumar Singh and Nagin Nanda was hearing a matter pertaining to three dumping zones in the national capital -- Bhalswa, Gazipur and Okhla.

The committee has been directed to submit their report within two months.