After 100cr NGT rap, Noida to form spl environment cell

Noida: The Noida Authority, which was recently directed by the National Green Tribunal to pay Rs 100 crore compensation for discharge of untreated sewage into the Kondli irrigation canal that flows into the Yamuna, has decided to form a dedicated environment cell.
For this, the Authority plans to engage three experts for the management of wastewater, groundwater, sewage treatment plants (STPs) and other environmental concerns.
The Noida Authority has issued an expression of interest (EOI) to hire a consulting firm engaged in the field of environment for the environmental cell. The team’s functions will include compliance checks of all environmental clearances (EC) related to integrated water resource management, wastewater, freshwater and groundwater management, including rainwater harvesting. The company will also check compliance with consents associated with permission for groundwater abstraction, discharge and STPs, officials said.
The EOI document states that the experts will visit all project sites in which environmental clearance is issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) for survey, surveillance and monitoring, and for audit and inspection of compliance with environmental clearance conditions. The environment cell will report its findings to the deputy general manager of the UP Jal Board.
The cell will present a monthly report on the functioning of STPs in Noida. It will also issue notices in case STPs are found non-functional. The cell will also be responsible for collection of samples of treated water and send them to the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for testing. In case of violations of environmental clearance conditions, the cell can recommend compensation as well, officials said.
The cell will also address issues pertaining to the Central Pollution Control Board, UPPCB and NGT. Officials said initially, the cell will be created for a year and the term can be extended.