How many abattoirs are running in UP, NGT asks UPPCB

The National Green Tribunal has directed Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to submit within two weeks a list of slaughter houses in Uttar Pradesh after a plea alleged they were discharging untreated effluents in Ganga, Yamuna and their tributaries.
It also asked Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to file an affidavit stating how many slaughter houses have obtained permission for extraction of ground water.
"UPPCB shall furnish the details as to how many slaughter houses are there in Uttar Pradesh, out of them how many are operational, how many are lying closed and how many slaughter houses have obtained consent of the Board and whether they are lying closed or are operational. Further, it will also be informed by way of an Affidavit about the slaughter houses whose applications are pending.

"We direct all the Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers and the senior most Officers of the all the Corporations, and Nigams to provide help and assistance to the Board in relation to filing of this affidavit," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
It asked UPPCB to give a list of slaughter houses who have obtained permission of Health department, municipal corporation or Nagar Nigam for carrying on such activity.
The matter was listed for next hearing on April 27.

The bench had earlier issued notices to Environment Ministry, UP government, UPPCB, CGWA and others.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by environment activist Shailesh Singh who had moved NGT against "illegal" operation of slaughterhouses in Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Sambhal and Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.

He has alleged that the abattoirs were discharging untreated effluents contaminated with animal waste and blood of slaughtered animals in open drains which go into the tributaries of Ganga and Yamuna, polluting them.