iffed at the rampant construction of high rises along Yamuna in Agra and near Taj Mahal and dumping of municipal solid waste in the river, the National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to get it cleaned and also place before it the status of all construction including residential colonies.
“…Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, U.P. Jal Board and the State of Uttar Pradesh to file comparative chart before the Tribunal within two weeks from today and provide the Status of each of the Noticees (colonies etc in this case,” the Tribunal ordered.
“It shall be stated if required, they have environmental clearance or not, whether they have sewer connection or not, if the building plan have been sanctioned and whether any Sewage Treatment Plant/ Common Effluent Treatment Plant was provided or not and if provided whether it has been constructed and operational at the site or not,” it added.
The Bench expressed its disquiet on the dumping of waste in drains near the Taj.
"Go to Agra and get things cleaned. This is a limit. This is shocking. We are disgusted. Principal solid waste being dumped at drains near Taj demonstrates sad state of affairs. All of you should be fined at least Rs one lakh. List on Thursday for further directions, It is unfortunate that it is happening and what we see is a fact," a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said.
The Tribunal also sought details of those who are discharging sewage and other waste directly into the river Yamuna, for which it had passed prohibitory order.
Some of the builders during the hearing submitted that they were not informed by the Agra Development Authority about the need to get environment clearance (EC).
"Untreated drains have already been closed and builders have been restrained from constructing anything near Yamuna in compliance with the tribunal's earlier order," a counsel appearing for the builders, submitted.
The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by D.K.Joshi, who also serves on a Supreme Court-appointed monitoring committee for looking into Yamuna and water-related issues.
In his complaint, Mr Joshi talks of how high-rise structures on Yamuna bank got no-objection certificate.
He has said that despite a 2011 Allahabad High Court order, residential colonies like Aparna River View Colony, Manglam Shila, Manglam Estate, Pushpanjali Heights, Kalyani Heights, Pushpanjali Seasons, Rajshree Estate, Jawahar Bagh Phase-II and Vaibhav Garden had sprung up within 50 metres of the Yamuna.
Go to Agra and get things cleaned. This is a limit. This is shocking. We are disgusted
