NGT takes note of 'river of plastic' video, seeks report on Ashwani Khud in HP

Taking cognisance of a video that purportedly shows heaps of plastic waste flowing into the Ashwani Khud river in Himachal Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal has directed the state pollution control board to verify the facts and submit a detailed report within a week.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed its registry to register the matter on its own as a regular case after NGT's expert member Dr S S Garbyal received a video from one Pankaj Khullar, a former principal chief conservator of forest in Himachal Pradesh.

The 1.2-minute video on a "river of plastic" went viral on the social media, showing it was of the Ashwani Khud, near Seri, in Solan district.

It showed that Ashwani Khud, which had supplied drinking water to the city of Shimla till last year, was turned into a "river of plastic", with enormous quantity of plastic waste seen flowing into the river.

"In view of the alarming situation seen from the video in respect of the plastic waste, the matter requires immediate attention in the interest of protection of environment and public at large. Therefore, we think it appropriate to take cognizance of the matter. We direct the registry of NGT to register it as a regular case.

"The Registrar shall forward the video to the mobile phone of the Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, who shall verify the facts and send his report in the matter within one week," the bench, also comprising Justices Jawad Rahim and R S Rathore, said.