NGT: Include Seechewal in monitoring committee to check pollution in Satluj

JALANDHAR: Hearing a four-year-old petition by a resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan about the pollution in Satluj river in Punjab, water of which is supplied in eight districts of Rajasthan through Indira Gandhi Canal Project, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered to form a monitoring committee to ensure improvement on the ground level. NGT has ordered that noted environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal be included in the committee while also placing on record its appreciation for his work to create awareness checking pollution.

In its order July 24, the tribunal noted that looking at the facts appearing in the inspection reports (which it cited in its 10 page long order) and the steps taken by local bodies, no clear picture of the result achieved at the ground level was emerging. Notably, sewage and industrial effluents are being thrown in river Satluj at several places and even by municipal bodies and aquatic lifein it has already been finished and even ‘E Class’ water (worst in gradation) also flows into it from Budha Nullah and Chitti Bein.

“Though, it is stated that there is need to upgrade STPs/CETPS and there are other challenges, time bound solution has not been suggested. The matter is pending for four years and almost 50 adjournments have been granted. We are now satisfied that there is immediate need for a dedicated and qualified monitoring committee for constant monitoring so as to ensure improvement on the ground level,” it noted.

“The untreated effluents cannot be allowed to be dumped into any river or water bodies as it will violate fundamental right to life of the inhabitants were entitled to pollution free and clean water,” it held.

It directed that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) would forthwith constitute a monitoring committee with the involvement of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal “who has rendered remarkable voluntary service for creating awareness of checking pollution”. “The representative of the CPCB will be the nodal Officer and a representative of the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board may also be included in the Monitoring Committee. The Monitoring Committee must have one Engineer and one scientist and also a member of the Punjab Pollution Control Board and a nominee of the Urban Development of the State of Punjab,” it added.

It also ordered that the Committee must have its first meeting latest by August 10 and take stock of the action taken report so far. “It may also prepare time bound Action Plan for handling the situation. Short term action plan may be for three months and longer plan may have three monthly targets,” it said.

It said that the report of the monitoring committee would be filed by October 31, while posting the matter for next hearing on November 14.