NGT allows reopening of Gajraula-based dairy firm

The National Green Tribunal today allowed a dairy firm in Uttar Pradesh to resume operations after three months as the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) said it was now complying with the environmental norms.
A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim permitted the Gajraula-based Dairy India Private Ltd to run after it was informed that the unit was now adhering to all recommendations made by the state pollution control board. The unit was earlier found to be releasing waste in the open and ordered to be shut down.
The green panel was also apprised that the industry has received the no objection certificate from Central Ground Water Authority for extraction of ground water and had installed real-time effluent monitoring system linked to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

"UPPCB has no objection to allow the industry to function subject to an undertaking that instructions will be complied with," the bench noted.
"It should ensure that there no violation of any of the conditions imposed and not discharge effluents in a manner which is prejudicial and impact environment," it said.
The tribunal had shut down the firm on April 26 and later slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh on it for discharging untreated effluents and extracting ground water without permission from the Central Ground Water Authority.

It had asked it to deposit the amount with the CPCB to "show their bonafide" before it.

The April order was passed after the green panel noted the findings of a special inspection team which said that the effluents discharged in the Bagad river were beyond the prescribed limits.
Bagad, which spans a distance of 200 kms, contained heavy industrial pollutants from Gajraula and Bhagrala industrial clusters as there was no effluent treatment plant on the river.
On April 24, the NGT had constituted an inspection team comprising Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board, Director (Tech), National Mission for Clean Ganga, Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Member Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

They were directed to inspect 12 industries in the catchment area of Bagad river at Gajraula in Amroha district of UP and report about the source of water used by them.