NGT seeks Centre's reply on glass factories in Firozabad

The glass industries in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad district today came under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal which sought response from the Centre and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on a plea seeking their closure.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Uttar Pradesh government, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, CPCB and UP Pollution Control Board on a plea of an NGO while seeking their reply by August 3.
The Tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE) seeking action against "illegal" operation of 60 glass industries which were allegedly operating without the consent of pollution board.

"60 glass industries in Firozabad are operating without obtaining a valid Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate as is required under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974...
"That without obtaining the relevant consents, these glass industries are not only violating the law but are also exposing the residents of Firozabad to highly toxic pollutants and worsening the air standards in an already sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone area," the plea, filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary, said quoting an RTI reply.
The NGO claimed that as the country's premier glass industry cluster, Firozabad accounted for about 70 per cent of the total glass production in the small-scale sector.

More than 400 registered glass industries are operating in Firozabad which manufacture different types of glass products including glass art wares, domestic wares, hardware and beads, it said.
The plea also sought direction to UPPCB and the Taj Trapezium Zone (Pollution) Prevention and Control Authority to provide a list of all the "illegally operating" glass units and submit a compliance status report on the action taken against them.