NT NETWORK
Panaji
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to study and analyse the extent of impact of reduction in industrial and sewage pollution on the environment, including rivers and other water bodies.
The court has directed all the state pollution control boards to realise compensation for violation from July 2020 against all those violators who could not ensure 100 per cent treatment of sewage/effluent and failing to do so the erring state PCBs/PCCs will be held accountable.
The court has expressed anguish over deficiencies shown by different states including Goa in managing the treated sewage water and directed them to ensure 100 per cent treatment of sewage entering water bodies and ensure action against violators.
It, therefore, directed all the states, which have not addressed all the action points with regard to the utilisation of treated sewage water, to do the exercise before June 30.
The CPCB may furnish its report by September 15 giving the status of furnishing of action plans and their execution as on August 31 by e-mail, the NGT said.
The court has also noted the reports over the improvement in river water quality during the lockdown and asked the CPCB to study and analyse the reasons and submit its report.
It has further added that the CPCB may also study and analyse the extent of reduction of industrial and sewage pollution load on the environment, including industrial areas and rivers and other water bodies and submit its detailed report to the tribunal.
“If the activities reopen, the compliance to standards must be maintained by ensuring full compliance of law by authorities statutorily responsible for the same,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel has said.
It has also asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to continue its efforts on the compilation of River Basin-wise data.
“Action plans be firmed up with Budgets/Financial tie-up. Such plans be overseen by Chief Secretary and forwarded to CPCB before June 30. CPCB may consolidate all action plans and file a report accordingly,” the order reads.
It has directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to facilitate states/UTs for ensuring that water quality of rivers, lakes, water bodies and groundwater is maintained.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti and others relating to the establishment and functioning of sewage treatment plants and to take action against local bodies for failing to install STPs and discharging sewage without treatment.
The court has held the secretaries of urban development/other concerned, including irrigation and public health, local bodies, rural development departments of all the states/UTs responsible for the compliance for action plans and asked the chief secretary to oversee the compliance.
“All states/UTs through their concerned departments such as urban/rural development, irrigation and public health, local bodies, environment, etc may ensure formulation and execution of plans for sewage treatment and utilization of treated sewage effluent with respect to each city, town and village, adhering to the timeline as directed by Supreme Court,” the bench has said.