Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution of river Nira by industries, Pune, Maharashtra, 20/02/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Janardan Kundalikrao Pharande & Others Vs Ministry of Environment & Forests & Others dated 20/02/2019. The grievance of the applicant was that water of river Nira in Pune District was rendered unfit for human consumption and even for animal consumption and agriculture use on account of polluting activities of M/s Jubilant Organic Limited which was carrying on distillery activity.
The Tribunal vide order dated 10.08.2017 directed the MPCB to issue appropriate directions for zero discharge status, compliance of observations of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and prohibited the industries from discharging effluents. The MPCB was to issue direction for securing time bound remedial measures recommended by the NEERI and the CGWB.
Court was of the view that the compliance of order of the Tribunal dated 10.08.2017 needs to be monitored. For this purpose, National Green Tribunal orders for the constitution of a Joint Committee comprising of representatives of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board and IIT Mumbai. The nodal agency will be the CPCB for coordination and compliance.