Dairies in Meerut: NGT issues bailable warrant against MDA

The National Green Tribunal has issued bailable warrant against the Secretary of Meerut Development Authority for failure of officials to appear before it and inform about status of unauthorised dairies running in the Uttar Pradesh district.
"We issue bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 20,000 to the satisfaction of arresting officer against Secretary, Meerut Development Authority for securing his presence before the Tribunal on the next date of hearing in exercise of our powers ...The bailable warrant shall be executed by the concerned SHO," a bench headed by Justice U D Salvi said.
The green panel further said that if the MDA Secretary fails to appear on the next date it would take coercive steps against him.

The matter is listed for next hearing on September 29.
The tribunal had earlier issued notice to Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and sought its response on dairies in Ganga Nagar area of Meerut within two weeks.
MDA filed a status report giving details of the action taken against the violators who have been misusing the area allotted to them for running unauthorised dairies.

It had also informed the tribunal that notices have been issued against all the allotees who have been indulging in unauthorised dairy operation and the response to these notices is awaited.
It had also assured the bench that expeditious action would be taken against all erring allotees and running of unauthorised dairies in the area would be effectively checked.

The tribunal on February 26 had directed Meerut Development Authority to close all illegal dairies in the area and file a status report regarding the same.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had directed removal of these dairies from the city in order to check pollution.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by advocate Abhishek Garg seeking action against unauthorised dairies running in Ganga Nagar area of Meerut and the consequent environmental pollution caused due to them.
Garg had claimed that that these dairies were being run illegally without permission from any competent authority or consent from the environment authority.