Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution of waterbodies in Punjab, 04/02/2025
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News Item titled "Over 1200 sources polluting water bodies in Punjab reveals govt report" appearing in the Tribune dated 16.09.2024. In the Original Application, registered suo-motu, the tribunal is considering the disclosure in the news item about over 1200 sources of pollution that have been identified and which are affecting the water bodies in Punjab.
The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) constituted a committee to gather information and prepare a status report on the matter. The PPCB informed the court that information has been sought from different departments which is awaited and requested for grant of two months time for filing the final status report.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in its reply said that as per the information received from the Department of Water Resources, Punjab, there are 2034 pollution sources in 37 divisions of Punjab out of which 640 pollution sources have been removed and 1394 pollution sources are yet to be removed.
The CPCB report further stated that for the rejuvenation of the identified DRS, a comprehensive action plan has been prepared by the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the respective State Governments/Union Territories but the report does not disclose in clear terms the extent of implementation of the river action plan in Punjab. CPCB submitted that a further comprehensive report will be filed by the CPCB within four weeks. The NGT will next hear the case on May 14, 2025.