Following a plea seeking remedial action to prohibit the discharge of sewage and domestic waste into two ponds in Mathura, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a committee to carry out an inspection of the waterbodies.
Constitutes panel
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a committee comprising representatives from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Mathura District Magistrate and Mathura Vrindavan Nagar Nigam and directed the committee to submit a report within two months.
Referring to tests carried out by an Agra-based medical college, the Bench observed, “Increased number of cases of diarrheal disease outbreak and the aforementioned tests link the outbreak of diseases to the water quality of the two [ponds]. In view of allegations [made], we find it necessary to require a joint inspection and action taken report.”
The directions came when the green panel was hearing a plea moved by Sushil Raghav that sought directions to authorities to stop the discharge of sewage and domestic waste into the Radha Kund and Shyam Kund.
“The (SN Medical College) report concluded that the water was not fit for drinking and the reason for the increased instances of food poisoning could be attributed to the contaminated water of the Radha Kund and Shyam Kund,” the plea read.
The UPPCB has been made the nodal agency for coordination and compliance of the NGT order.