The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board as well as the state pollution control board to prohibit polluting activities in the industrial clusters of Kala Amb, Baddi and Parwanoo within three months and furnish a compliance report.
The National Green Tribunal has taken note of the adverse comprehensive environmental pollution index (CEPI), which encompasses the water and air pollution norms, in the industrial clusters of Kala Amb, Baddi and Parwanoo.
The NGT’s Bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel announced these orders on August 10 for 100 industrial clusters across the nation after taking into consideration their CEPI. The tribunal had directed the pollution boards to finalise a time-bound action plan to mitigate pollution in these areas.
The NGT had sought the CEPI scores of these areas which were analysed by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change. The NGT had observed that the continuing pollution activities were criminal offences under the law and the rule of law required prohibiting such activities to safeguard the environment.
Pollution Levels in Baddi, Kala Amb and Parwanoo:
- Air index in Baddi was found to be 63 while the water was 63.75 and the CEPI was rated at 68.26 and this industrial cluster was placed at the 44th position nationally.
- In Kala Amb, the figures stood at 17, 64 and the CEPI was rated at 65.70 with this cluster figuring at the 53rd position.
- In Parwanoo, they were in the range of 19, 61.88 and with 65.77 CEPI index, it fared at the 54th position nationally.
It is to be noted that while the non-polluting or white and green industries will not be affected by these orders, the state pollution board will have to ensure that the ministry has been directed to take steps to enforce an action plan for improving the index in these towns.
About National Green Tribunal:
- NGT is a specialised body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources?
- India became the third country in the world to set up a specialised environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New Zealand, and isthe first developing country to do so.
- NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.
- The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the other four.
- The Tribunal comprises of the Chairperson, the Judicial Members and Expert Members. They shall hold office for term of five years and are not eligible for reappointment.