Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution by textile industries in Balotra, Bithuja and Jasol, Barmer district, Rajasthan, 07/12/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Digvijay Singh Vs State of Rajasthan & Others dated 07/12/2020 regarding pollution caused by the textile industries at Balotra, Bithuja and Jasol in district Barmer, Rajasthan.
The applicant is an advocate at Jodhpur and filed the petition by way of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging discharge of toxic effluents by the textile industries, over and above the capacity of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), which resulted in irreversible damage to the environment, including the groundwater quality and table, lives and health of the local residents.
The NGT said that there should be stringent approach against violators of environmental norms, affecting public health and damage to fertility of land and availability of drinking water.
"There is track record of chronic non-compliances but not showing responsible behaviour by the CETP operator and the industries", the order of December 7, 2020 said. Apart from prosecutions, the polluting activity has to be stopped by closure orders and for past violations, deterrent compensation is required to be assessed and recovered and this would require credible monitoring and assessment at ground level. For this purpose, the bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Sheo Kumar Singh, assisted by Dr. Nagin Nanda directed the constitution of a Committee.