Following a plea seeking action against alleged pollution caused by a paper mill in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the State pollution control board to carry out an inspection.
Directing the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to furnish an action taken report on the same, a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that the UPPCB was unable to carry out inspections earlier owing to the ongoing Kumbh festival. “Report [dated January 25] has been received. Consent to operate under relevant rules expired on December 21, 2018, but the unit was lying closed on account of directions during Kumbh festival. After re-opening, further inspection will be carried out,” the Bench noted.
The Bench further added, “The report does not show whether valid permission for extraction of groundwater has been taken by the unit. The UPPCB may now carry out such inspection and verify whether there is any bypass for discharge of effluents in any waterbody.”
The directions came while the NGT was hearing a plea that sought “remedial action” against alleged pollution caused by K.R. Paper Mills in Shahjahanpur.