NGT appoints local commissioner to inspect Bhiwadi industries

The National Green Tribunal today appointed a local commissioner to inspect the industrial clusters in the Bhiwadi area in Rajasthan's Alwar district and sought detailed report on pollution levels in the area.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar appointed advocate Sumeer Sodhi as local commissioner and directed him to inspect the industries tomorrow.
"There is a serious controversy being raised before us as to the extent of high pollution on the surface as well as ground water," the bench said.
"The counsel appearing for the applicant has produced the water quality extracted from the bore-well which is highly contaminated. A controversy was raised with reference to the source and content of the samples produced before us," it said.

The tribunal directed the local commissioner to prepare a comprehensive report on industrial clusters, common effluent treatment plant and sought information on drainage and collection of waste.
"He shall also observe as to how many major industries are having their own effluent treatment plant and also collect samples from different sources. He will be accompanied by officers of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), regional officer of Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the police officials," the bench said.

The tribunal said that the collected samples will be divided into two equal proportions and it would be analysed at laboratories of the CPCB and the Shriram Institute for Industrial Research at Delhi.

The fees of the local commissioner would be Rs 30,000 which will be in addition to the expenses incurred during the inspection.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Sumitra Devi, a local ward member of the Dharuhera Municipal Committee, and others highlighting the menace of water pollution faced by local residents of about 20 villages caused by the Bhiwadi and Khuskhera industrial areas.