NGT notice to UP govt, CPCB over illegal units in Mathura

A plea alleging that the apex pollution monitoring body was sleeping like "Kumbhakarna" over illegal industries operating at Mathura in Uttar Pradash has prompted the National Green Tribunal to seek response from the state government on the issue.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Akhilesh Yadav government, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), state pollution control board and others while seeking their response by October.
The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Mathura resident Kanta Nath Chaturvedi seeking directions to permanently close all illegal units which were running in violation of environmental laws.

In his plea, Chaturvedi has contended that these unauthorised industries did not have valid consent to operate and discharge untreated effluents in the river Yamuna.
"By allowing the illegal and hazardous units to operate, the respondents are not only exposing the unaware residents of Mathura to greater health hazards but also violating the norms of Taj Trapezium Zone.
"They are equally liable under the environmental protection Act and Water Act along with the operators of such illegal industries, and CPCB on the other hand is completely ignorant to the facts of this matter sleeping like mythological character 'Kumbhakarna'," the plea said.

Kumbhakarna, the younger brother of Ravana in the mythological epic Ramayan, was known to sleep for six months at a stretch.