NGT directs UPPCB to close industries running without consent

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to shut down all the industries running in residential areas without any consent.

The green tribunal also instructed the Moradabad District Magistrate (DM) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to provide all assistance to the UPPCB in order to execute the same.

The UPPCB submitted before the court that it is impossible to close such industries without the help of local administration and police.

The board also submitted that it is difficult to stop such industries in residential area and as such they are unable to execute the directions passed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

After hearing the arguments made by all the parties, the NGT ordered that all the industries operating without consent in residential areas shall be closed forthwith.

It is important to note here that the CPCB carried joint inspection in Moradabad and made the following revelations:

• Number of "sealed" and "closed" illegal e-waste industries are working.

• Large number of e-waste units are operating illegally in densely populated residential areas and that too without any consent.

• No major change observed regarding dumping of waste material on the river bed at Ramganga, a major tributary of Ganga.

• Electricity department failed to disconnect connections of 27 illegal units.

• Local administration like district administration, local police failed to comply with the directions.

Further, the CPCB also stated in its report that the local administration of Uttar Pradesh has failed to comply with their directions in regard to closure of illegal industries which are polluting River Ganga's major tributary.

The report states that the joint inspection team visited the areas in the vicinity of river Ramganga and found that heaps of black milled powder stacked in open and in bags were found lying on the bank of river Ramganga.

It is important to note that on an original application filed by ex-scientist of CPCB, the NGT issued notice to the MOEF & Ors on the issue of Illegal e-waste processing going on the banks of river Ramganga.

It is stated in the petition that the CPCB made surprise inspection at Moradabad wherein the team found that at many places the illegal processing of e-waste was going on and the same is polluting river Ramganga.