NGT asks UP Principal Secretary to file report on Hindon

In view of high pollution due to industrial discharge in Hindon, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Principal Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to take immediate steps for controlling the pollution in the river.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the UP Principal Secretary of Environment to personally inspect the river with senior officers and submit a status report by November 5.
The green panel said there was an urgent need to control pollution of the river as it was a tributary of Ganga.
The directions came on a plea filed by NGO Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity (SPENBIO) which submitted photographs highlighting high pollution in the river Hindon.

"The photographs placed before the Tribunal clearly shows very high pollution of river Hindon because of industrial discharge, indiscriminate dumping of municipal waste and even sewage. Strangely the chemical and other pollutant contents are of such high density that the foam from the river is moving to the road.
"All that we hear is that public authorities shift the responsibility to other and at the best that notice have been issued. There is no plausible stand taken by any of the public authority. There is a dire need for controlling pollution," the bench said.

The green tribunal pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for not taking clear stand on the issue and shifting responsibility for the worsening condition of the river.

"Let a meeting be held by the Principal Secretary Environment, UP with the head of departments of Ghaziabad Development Authority and municipal corporation, NOIDA and Urban Development, UP who shall personally visit Hindon, particularly the location exhibited in the photographs placed on record; take immediate steps for remedying and controlling the pollution," the bench said.
It also asked the committee to fix 'responsibility' of officers or organisation who failed to perform their statutory duties and permitted to cause the pollution to rise to this extent.
"The meeting should be held within two weeks. The report shall be positively placed before the Tribunal by the next date of posting. In the event of default, all these officers would be personally present," the Tribunal said.