Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution of river Basantar, District Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, 22/11/2018
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action & Others Vs Jammu and Kashmir State Pollution Control Board & Others dated 22/11/2018. This application seeks direction to close down industries causing pollution, discharging effluents/waste into or near the River Basantar, District Samba, Jammu and Kashmir and operating without statutory consent. Counsel for the J&KSPCB has handed over “Compliance Report” to the effect that there is no STP in place to treat the domestic sewage from Samba town which is being discharged into the river Basanter. Waste water from Industrial Estate is also discharged into the river.
National Green Tribunal directs State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) to set up TSDF and CETP within six months, failing which SIDCO will be liable to pay an amount of Rs. 5 Crores every three months by way of deposit with the Central Pollution Control Board for being spent on restoration of environment. For the past failure in more than one decade, SIDCO is held liable to pay compensation of Rs. 5 Crores. Municipal Council, Samba is held liable to pay compensation of Rs. 10 Lakh for the past failure in installing STP and for discharging untreated sewage in the river. Same amount will be payable for failure to install STP after six months, i.e., at the rate of Rs. 10 Lakh per month.