Indian Rayon under NGT scanner

Rajkot: The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has appointed a joint committee to inquire into the allegation of pollution by Indian Rayon.
A petition was filed in 2015 by the protection of environment and public service committee. The NGT during the hearing on Wednesday ordered this committee to look into the allegation levelled by the petitioner by visiting the site in one month and submitting the report in three months.
The petition alleged that the company was discharging hazardous chemical into the sea as well as Deveka River. The unit was granted the environment clearance for electricity in June 2015.
The petition was filed in western region bench of the NGT in Pune, which thereafter referred this petition to the principal bench of Delhi earlier this year. The hearing for this petition took place on September 9 in which the principal bench observed: “Since the pleadings have been filed long back, without expressing any final view on the rival aspects it is necessary to ascertain the latest status on the ground by appointing an independent committee.”
The NGT accordingly ordered the formation of a joint committee comprising representatives of Central Pollution Control Board, Gujarat State Pollution Control Board, National Institute of Oceanography and district magistrate of Gir Somnath.
The order stated: “The joint committee may visit the plant and the site of disposal of the effluents within one month, look into the compliance of relevant parameters and furnish its report to this tribunal within three months by email.”