Six-year-old moves NGT against poultry farm near school

A six-year-old kindergarden student in Uttar Pradesh approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday against a poultry farm near his school, saying it emanates an obnoxious smell that is causing breathing problem among children.

Arjun Malik, from Shaamli, in his petition against M/s Highteck Layer Farm Ltd and the state of Uttar Pradesh, has stated that despite several notices by pollution control board and objections from locals, the poultry farm continued operation.

The applicant said of the 3,000 children who go to school in the region, a majority are facing breathing problems and vomiting due to the strong offensive smell.

The Tribunal has accepted the case and issued notice to all the respondents, seeking a reply within a week's time.

The petitioner also asks if the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) can grant "NOC" under Air Act to a poultry farm which is causing air pollution and is violating the right to purity of air of hundreds of schoolgoing children.

"Due to the lack of housekeeping facility and due to the fact that respondent No. 07 (Highteck Layer Farm Ltd) has not installed any treatment plant in its poultry farm, the waste from the farm floats outside resulting into emission of strong offensive smell," says the petition.

The petition said that because of poor monitoring and regulation by UPPCB and the farm, mean fly density of the area has increased multiple fold resulting into health hazard for the local inhabitants.

The six-year-old has approached the court through his father as legal representative. The case has been listed for August 16.

--IANS

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