The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central and Uttar Pradesh pollution monitoring bodies to analyse soil samples from agricultural farms near Aril river in Moradabad district which has allegedly been contaminated by effluents from industrial units.
A bench headed by Justice M. S. Nambiar asked Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPC) to carry out a joint comprehensive probe to ascertain the pollution caused in the soil and water allegedly due to the industrial units in the area.
Detailed survey
It also directed Central Ground Water Authority to carry out a detailed survey of ground water contamination and submit a report by May 30.
“Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and UPPCB are directed to conduct a joint inspection to collect the soil and thereafter analyse the soil from any relevant institute/ university and submit a report by the next date of hearing,” the bench said.
The matter is now fixed for hearing on May 30.
In September last year, Moradabad based Ramchander Straw Products Ltd had told the tribunal that they have decided to immediately shut down their operations in the wake of the CPCB’s direction to close their unit for causing pollution.
The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Uttar Pradesh-based farmers Kokaram Yadav and Chechinder Yadav seeking compensation of over Rs. 7 lakh from the Moradabad-based unit for damaging their crops and the environment.
The plea, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, had stated that the paper mill has been continuously discharging its untreated effluents and dumping solid waste into Aril river which meets Ramganga at Bareilly.
Consequently, Aril is blocked causing an overflow during the monsoons. As a result, the water and the effluents run into the adjoining agricultural lands in Sambhal district and damage crops and planted vegetation, it had said.
“Even the Central Pollution Control Board’s 2013 report titled ‘Pollution Assessment: River Ganga’ has included the unit in its list of 764 grossly polluting industries,” the plea had said. - PTI
“A paper mill has been continuously discharging its effluents and dumping solid waste into the river”
