NGT takes cognizance of pollution in U'khand village, orders inspection

The residents of an Uttarakhand village have written a letter to the National Green Tribunal alleging discharge of untreated chemical effluents in drains by industries located in the vicinity. The villagers have contended there has been a complete violation of environmental laws and pollution norms by a large numbers of industries established in SIDCUL industrial park, located in the vicinity of village Siddh Garbyang in the Udham Singh Nagar district. Terming the situation as alarming, a bench of Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore directed its Registry to register the letter as a petition and directed the Uttarakhand state pollution control board to inspect the industrial units near and around the village. The NGT issued notices to the Uttarakhand government, District Magistrate of Udham Singh Nagar, state pollution control board, Managing Director of State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (SIDCUL) while seeking their replies in two weeks. "We direct the Uttarakhand pollution control board to conduct inspection of the industrial units near and around the village of Siddh Garbyang," the tribunal said while posting the matter for hearing on April 2. The board has been directed to identify the industries which are discharging untreated effluent and causing air and ground water pollution. It has also been asked to inform the tribunal that whether the industries are complying with the conditions of environment clearance. "The pollution control board shall also collect samples of the effluents discharged, and of ground water coming out of the tubewells.

Assess the smoke coming out of the chimneys and collect samples of soil of the agriculture fields so as to ascertain whether it has also been affected by industrial effluents," the bench said. The letter said that industrial units were spewing black soot which deposited black dust on the houses of the villagers especially during the morning and evening hours due to which it was difficult for the residents to sit out of their houses and do any work. "During rainy season the effluent spreads over the agriculture fields and even the tubewells of the village are having coloured water which is not fit for human or animal consumption," the petition said. The letter said that it is unclear which industry was causing pollution and discharging discharging effluents in the drain. The villagers said they have complained to various authorities and the state pollution control board officers had also visited the sites and taken samples but no action has been taken till date.

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