The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ghaziabad Development Authority, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam and other State government authorities to respond to recommendations made by an NGT-appointed committee pertaining to storm water drains in industrial areas.
A Bench headed by NGT judicial member Justice Raghuvendra S. Rathore directed the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam and the District Forest Officer to file a “point-wise reply,” with respect to the recommendations made by the committee.
The committee, in its report dated October 2017, had noted: “The natural storm water channel of Sahibabad has been turned into a sewage drain carrying the waste from the entire area ...Only a small fraction of the wastewater from the drain is diverted to the STP in Indirapuram. Thus, the drain is a major cause of pollution in Hindon river and downstream Yamuna.”
Noting that the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has “turned a blind eye” by not covering drains, the committee said, “As a first step to restoration, all concrete covers over the drain and other constructions, if any should be removed or demolished. Then the entire stretch of the drain should be thoroughly desilted... The banks of the drains should be protected by developing green cover.”
The committee further recommended the segregation of sewage and industrial effluents to ensure that they are not permitted to flow into the natural drains.
“As far as the industrial effluents are concerned, the industrial area should be provided a separate common effluent treatment plant as per norms of the Central Pollution Control Board,” the report said.
Noting that despite final orders passed in 2016, the authorities had failed to execute the directions, the Bench, also comprising Justice Satyawan Singh Garbyal, said, “After considering affidavits filed by the respective respondents, the deterrent order which is to be passed as against defaulting respondents [will be decided].”
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has also been directed to submit the lab analysis report of samples taken by the NGT-appointed committee.