Explainer: Orders down the drain, Haryana pollution watchdog in green tribunal’s firing line
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Member Secretaries of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and the Haryana Water Resources Authority (HWRA) for failing to submit compliance reports regarding the discharge of untreated industrial effluent in Panipat. The tribunal observed that neither authority had submitted any report in connection with its earlier directives, despite clear orders to do so within a fixed timeframe.
What prompted the tribunal’s actions?
Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Chulkana village in Samalkha of Panipat district, had filed a complaint with the NGT in February last year. In his complaint, Ramesh said he was an agriculturist and had 20-acre land in the village. He accused Haryana Organics (a unit of Globus Spirits Limited), a liquor factory, of discharging polluted water on his land for the last 10-12 years. Chemical effluents discharged and air pollution caused by the unit was adversely affecting his crops, he added. The complainant enclosed photographs in support of his grievances. The farmer also submitted in his application that he had lodged a complaint with the HSPCB, but no action was taken.
What action was taken on the farmer’s complaint?
Acting on the complaint, the NGT in February last year constituted a joint committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the HSPCB and the Panipat SDM. Following their inspection on March 14, the committee submitted a report to the NGT on May 28. In the report, the committee said the unit was engaged in manufacturing Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), country liquor, rectified spirit, extra neutral alcohol and ethanol. The report confirmed that untreated effluent was being discharged into Drain 6, causing damage to nearby agricultural fields. The HSPCB imposed an interim environmental compensation (EC) of Rs 27 lakh on the unit in July last year. The unit deposited the EC on August 6 last year. The HSPCB also recommended that an additional EC of Rs 33.90 lakh be imposed on the unit.
What action was taken by the NGT on the joint committee’s report?
Following the report of the joint committee, the NGT imposed an EC of Rs 33.90 lakh upon the unit, and also directed the HSPCB and HWRA Member Secretaries to comply with the reports on October 25 last year. The NGT had directed the HSPCB to look into all aspects of compliance with the EC conditions, and to accord attention towards cleaning the entire drain stretch (behind the unit) and ensure that no industrial effluent/sewage is discharged into the drain. The tribunal also asked the HSPCB to periodically carry out water quality analysis. It was also directed to ensure safe and scientific disposal of boiler ash and conduct periodic audits regarding compliance with Hazardous and other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. The HSPCB was also instructed to prepare and implement an action plan for the utilisation of the remaining EC amount of Rs 22 lakh for the protection and improvement of environment in the vicinity of the area, and on the affected land. Apart from it, the HWRA was directed to dispose of the application dated June 19, 2022, for permission pending with it, preferably within three months.
The NGT had also directed the body to ensure that compliance with the directions be made within three months, and sought compliance reports from the Member Secretaries within a month.
Why were the Member Secretaries served notices?
The Principal Bench of the NGT, headed by Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, in its orders on July 11, said: “No such compliance reports by or on behalf of the Member Secretary, HSPCB, and the Member Secretary, HWRA, has been received.” Consequently, the Bench served fresh notices, asking both officials to file affidavits explaining why the tribunal’s directions were not complied with.
Haryana Tribune