NGT orders joint inspection into Uttarakhand's paper mill

Expressing anguish over discharge of effluents, the National Green Tribunal today directed the central and Uttarakhand pollution control boards to jointly inspect Century Pulp and Paper mill at Nainital for releasing toxic liquid and solid waste into the reserve forest near it.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed a team comprising representatives of Environment Ministry, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UPCB) and nominated professors of IIT, Roorkee, to inspect the unit and submit its final report clearly stating whether the industry was complying with all the directions issued by the Boards.
The Tribunal also directed the inspection team 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," the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on March 12.
The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by environmentalist Gauri Maulekhi, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, seeking directions to immediately stop discharge of harmful toxic effluents in forest areas.
"There is a gross violation of environmental laws by Century Paper mill by disposing of untreated effluents in the stream which joins Gola river which flows into Ram Ganga and finally into Ganga and also disposing of hazardous wastes from the paper mill in the open and in the pits on the revenue land and also in the forest area, thereby causing pollution and contamination of the ground water," the plea said.