Irked by the "casual attitude" of the Rajasthan government, the National Green Tribunal has slapped an environmental compensation of Rs 10 lakh on it for failing to control discharge of domestic sewage and industrial effluents in Jojari river at Jodhpur.
A bench headed by Acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi said despite its commitment, the state government had not commissioned the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Salawas village.
"The affidavit/response of the state government dated August 23, 2017 reveals that 50 million litre per day (MLD) capacity of STP at Salawas, Phase-II was to be constructed and commissioned within one month i.e. by the end of September, 2017. As of today, the said STP is yet to be commissioned. All this shows the casual attitude of the state government which has deleterious effects on the environment.
"We, therefore, impose environmental compensation of Rs 10 lakh on the state government out of which 25 per cent of the amount would be paid to the Central Pollution Control Board and 75 per cent to the state pollution control board," the bench said.
The green panel also expressed displeasure over failure of the state government to remove sludge from the river despite interim orders being passed in the case.
"Rajasthan government in its affidavit dated May 22, 2017 reveals that the work of removal of sludge from the river Jojari was to start by the end of May, 2017 and it being hazardous in nature was to be disposed of at Balotra Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) site.
"However, there is nothing before us to suggest that the sludge has been removed and disposed of at TSDF site as per the commitment made vide affidavit dated May 22, 2017," the bench said in its recent order.
The matter will now be heard on March 5.
The order came after advocate Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for petitioner Gram Panchayat Araba, alleged that the state government was not taking adequate measures for controlling the damage to the environment.
She said the authorities had not commissioned STPs at Salawas and Basni Banda to treat the domestic sewage and there was unregulated discharge of domestic and industrial sewage in river Jojari.
A bunch of pleas filed by the Gram Panchayat and residents of Jodhpur had alleged pollution in Jojari by about 10,000 industries.
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