NGT asks CPCB to test groundwater sample near Bandhwari plant

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to carry out tests of samples of groundwater in areas adjoining the defunct Bandhwari sewage treatment plant in Haryana's Gurgaon.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the CPCB to collect samples of the ground water and analyse it in the laboratory within two weeks.
"The Central Pollution Control Board should file complete report within two weeks," the bench said, fixing the matter for hearing on August 22.
The green panel had in May slammed the Haryana government and its civic bodies over disposal of industrial waste and construction debris in the Aravalli forests along the Gurgaon-Faridabad road.

Several residents from nearby villages had appeared before the tribunal and alleged water contamination in their area.
They had told the NGT that continued dumping of waste at the Bandhwari landfill site had led a stream of "dirty, black water" or leachate into the Aravalli forest, polluting the aquifers around both Delhi and Gurgaon.

The villagers, who were accompanied by an NGO, submitted water samples to the green body. They alleged that "reckless dumping" of industrial waste and construction debris was taking place in the green area and sought urgent directions from the bench in this regard.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by environmentalist Vivek Kamboj and Amit Chaudhery, who had alleged that municipal corporations of Gurgaon and Faridabad were disposing of industrial waste and construction debris in forest areas along the Gurgaon-Faridabad road.

Kamboj had referred to a newspaper report which said that construction debris was found dumped in the forest area and quoted a resident there who stated that lots of vehicles dump waste in the forest area every Sunday morning.
The NGT had last year said that any individual spotted throwing waste or muck in the Aravalli forest would have to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000.
The tribunal had restrained the Haryana Urban Development Authority and the Gurgaon Municipal Corporation from dumping waste in the Aravalli forests and issued them a notice asking why they should not be asked to pay environmental compensation.