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| Basantar pollution case: SPCB, SIDCO, SKUAST ordered to appear before NGT | | | JAMMU, Oct 19: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Deputy Commissioner, incharge of Samba Municipal Committee, SKUAST and SIDCO to appear before it on October 24 next in New Delhi.
NGT also directed the Central Pollution Control Board to file reply within two weeks in the petition sections 14(1), 17 and 20 of the NGT Act, 2010. The tribunal's directive has come in a petition filed by an NGO through its convener.
The petition has been filed against the pollution caused into sacred river Basanter and environmental degradation due to air and water pollution in Samba district. The application seeks prohibition of pollution of Basantar, life and health, property of the people, domestic animals, wild life, aquatic life and ecology of the area.
Basantar originates from Shivalik Hills of Jammu and is a tributary of river Ravi. The catchment area is 6300 sq km and its discharge is maximum during monsoon season. It is an important river which is a source of water supply to Samba district. The people living in the area have spiritual and emotional attachment with this river as all important ceremonies are performed on its holy bank.
The river has presently become a cess pool of pollution caused by polluting industries on the banks, flood plains and the river bed. The industries are discharging highly toxic waste from the Industrial Estate and industries at Samba. The severity of situation can be gauged from the fact that the Central Pollution Control Board, vide its report on 'River Stretchers for Restoration of Water Quality' submitted in February, 2015 has marked the impugned area as Polluted River Stretches in J&K' identifying the stretch from Samba to Chakmangarakwal. It has been recorded that the cattle grazing along the banks have fallen sick and died after consuming the contaminated river water. Fishes and other aquatic organisms have also been found dead in the river, thereby posing a major health hazard to the people residing in the vicinity. Industrial complex in the vicinity of the River Basanter known as Industrial Growth Center has been developed by State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) which is the nodal agency for promotion and development of medium and large scale industries in the state. About 250 Small and Medium Industries manufacturing and dealing with pesticides and chemicals including pharmaceutical industries are discharging their wastes into or near the river, thus violating the norms of Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974. Basanter was chosen for analysis.
It was found that the ground water pollution was more near the area where industrial wastage was dumped, i.e. 45 m east. The presence of TDS, chloride, sulphate and iron in large amount in ground water makes it unsuitable for use and hence before use they should either be well treated, tested or the wells from where the water is used be dig at greater height or located at greater distance from the dumping sites. The applicants and inhabitants of the area have protested over proposed construction on the Basantar bed for Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samba, in violation of various laws. As per an RTI reply, the land impugned is Ghair Mumkin and has been transferred to SIDCO, Registrar of SKAUST, Chatha, Jammu. If the state government allows any type of construction on the river bed or banks of the river, irreparable damage will be caused to the ecology of the river and environment as a whole. Thus this the Act of the authorities is against the Principal of Sustainable Development. The petitioner pleaded that the acts of respondents were in gross violation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981, Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974, Plastic Waste Management and Handling Rules, 2000, Hazardous Waste Management rules, Article 21 and article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India. |
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