The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday banned open defecation and dumping of waste on the floodplains of the Yamuna river and announced an environment compensation of Rs. 5,000 for those violating the diktat.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also constituted a committee headed by the Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the execution of work pertaining to the cleaning of the river and asked it to submit reports at regular intervals.
The Delhi government and the municipal corporations were directed to immediately take action against industries that operate in residential areas and are a major source of pollution of the river.
The green panel noted that almost 67% of the pollution reaching the Yamuna would be treated by the two sewage treatment plants (STP) located at the Delhi Gate and Najafgarh under Phase 1 of the ‘Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.
The panel, on May 1, ordered the inspection of the STPs at the Delhi Gate and Okhla in order to ensure that wastewater was cleaned before it reached the Yamuna. It had sought a report with regard to the functioning of these plants.
The tribunal was informed that a total of 14 STPs are to be constructed to clean wastewater. Of these, seven are to be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds.
The directions came as the NGT was hearing a plea on the monitoring of the implementation of the ‘Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.
