NGT Directs For Formation Of Committee To Solve Sewage Problem in Greater Noida
|The National Green Tribunal has formed a Committee to look into a plea alleging discharge of sewage on open land, roads, internal lanes, and stormwater drains in 93 villages of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel held averments in the plea depict the unsatisfactory state of affairs and rampant violation of provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and "Public Trust Doctrine".
There is also a failure of the authorities to enforce citizens' right to a clean environment and the principle of sustainable development, the Tribunal said.
The Bench further directed for the formation of a Committee of CBCP, State PCB, GNIDA (Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority), District Magistrate, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Secretary, Urban Development and to look into the matter and take remedial action.
CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and the State PCB will be the nodal agency jointly for compliance and coordination. The Committee may meet within two weeks, undertake visit to the site, interact with the stakeholders and ascertain the action plan for remedial action," the Bench observed.
The NGT held that the action plan may cover septage management, sewerage plant with STP(s).
The Tribunal has further directed that the formed Committee shall identify the authorities responsible for the failure and take action against the violates/erring authorities.
The Report of the Committee may be furnished within two months, the Bench noted.
The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Pradeep Kumar and others alleging discharge of sewage on open land, roads, internal lanes, and stormwater drain in 93 villages of Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
The plea filed through Advocate Akash Vashishtha also stated that due to the blockage of stormwater drains, sewage/wastewater spills over to roads, causing damage.
Villagers are compelled to clean their sewage/wastewater-filled drains themselves and drink polluted water as most of them cannot afford purifying RO or other systems, stated the plea.
The applicants have also filed photographs in support of the averments and also letter of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) under the RTI Act, 2005 to the effect that only 29 out of 122 villages have operational sewerage system.
With PTI Inputs