POLLUTION

India’s Pollution Board Directed to Geo-Tag Stormwater Drains, Canals With Unique IDs To Minimise Sewage Pollution

A thick layer of toxic foam was seen floating on the surface of the river Yamuna in Delhi on March 21, 2020. (Anindya Chattopadhyay/TOI, BCCL, Delhi) — A thick layer of toxic foam was seen floating on the surface of the river Yamuna in Delhi
(Anindya Chattopadhyay/TOI, BCCL, Delhi)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take strict measures to prevent the discharge of sewage effluents to water bodies, stressing that stormwater drains, canals and water bodies need to be geo-tagged and given Unique Identification (UID).

"CPCB may issue appropriate directions to all PCBs/PCCs within two months, to give effect to section 24 of the Water Act, to the effect that Canals, water bodies (lentic or lotic), and the Natural Storm water drains are not to be used for discharge of treated or untreated trade or sewage effluents. The storm water drains, canals, and water bodies need to be geo-tagged and given UID," the tribunal's principal bench headed by Justice (retd) Adarsh Kumar Goel said in a recent order.

The direction came during the plea hearing regarding the remedial action for preventing untreated sewage from going to the 'irrigation canal', which joins the Yamuna and then Ganga, in Sector 137, NOIDA.

Per the plea, sources of such discharge include non-functional/deficient STPs in 95 high-rise buildings in Noida, industries, and wastewater from upstream Delhi and Ghaziabad.

Among the remedial action, the green court said, the authorities concerned should be monitored at the highest level by the Chief Secretaries, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi directly or through any appropriate mechanism. It is necessary to determine accountability for past failures causing massive damage to the environment and public health and to meet the cost of remediation.

The Chief Secretaries of Delhi and UP will be free to identify the erring officers in the process, take remedial action, and recover compensation from such erring officers/violators, including the group housing societies, the order said further.

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

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