Spcbs To Issue Notices To Polluting Units

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed all the coastal State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to issue forthwith show cause notices to all the industries in the coastal zone, discharging untreated effluent and wastes into coastal stretches. The directions were issued last week under the Water ( prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974. The Act provides for prosecution and other stringent measures if remedial measures are not taken by the defaulter within a timeframe. The SPCBs are required to send an action taken report to the CPCB in this regard within a month.

The SPCBs have also been asked to take action against the municipalities and other civic bodies if they are found to be discharging untreated wastes and effluents into coastal waters. Action will also be taken against the civic bodies if they do not collect, transport and treat the sewage and maintain the sewage treatment facilities as per the standards specified for the purpose.

 

Under the direction, the discharge of polluting materials particularly into the stretches identified as `areas of concern and potential areas of pollution', whether by an industry or a civic body, is to be taken a more serious view of. The directives have been issued under section 16 of the Act which assigns the SPCBs a special responsibility to check pollution in streams and wells. The Supreme Court also in its order in last year's case of Almotra H Patel versus the Union of India, directed SPCBs to initiate action against the civic bodies for not properly disposing of the sewage and other wastes.

The SPCBs are also required to issues public notices through the print and electronic media to ensure that polluting materials do not enter the water bodies. Action will be taken not only against the industries and civic bodies but also against `any other agency' if it is found erring in this regard.