NGT orders joint inspection into polluting sugar industry

The National Green Tribunal today directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to conduct a joint inspection of Wave Industries Ltd (Sugar Unit) in Uttar Pradesh for discharging untreated effluents into the Ganges.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed the joint committee comprising members of both the pollution control boards to submit a report in one week ahead of the next date of hearing, February 13.
The Tribunal also directed the committee to check the quantum of discharge and whether the Effluent Treatment Plant(ETP) installed is functioning properly or not.

"At the time of inspection, the unit shall be operational in optimum capacity," it said.
The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Jitesh Kumar, through advocate Gaurav Bansal, seeking a stay on the operation of the Wave Industries Ltd (Sugar Unit) in Bulandshahar district.
It claimed that the industrial unit is discharging untreated effluents directly in the Kali river, which falls in Ganga, causing serious health hazard.

According to the plea, Wave Industries applied to UPPCB for grant of No Objection Certificates under Air (Prevention Control of Pollution) Act and Water Act respectively.
Subsequently, UPPCB inspected the unit and found serious lapses and directed it to stop its operations with immediate effect on the ground that the purification plant installed was in bad condition, it said.

"However, the applicant was stunned and surprised to know that the Member Secretary, UPPCB, vide its letter dated November 28 last year suspended the closure order issued by UPPCB," the plea said.