Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding polluting industries in the identified polluting industrial clusters, 10/07/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item published in "The Asian Age" Authored by Sanjay Kaw Titled "CPCB to rank industrial units on pollution levels" dated 10/07/2019 regarding remedial action against the polluting industries in the identified polluting industrial clusters.
NGT directs the CPCB in coordination with all State PCBs/PCCs to take steps in exercise of statutory powers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 or any other law to prohibit operation of polluting activities in the critically polluted area (CPAs) and SPAs (severely polluted area) within three months and furnish a compliance report to the Tribunal. The Central Pollution Control Board in coordination with the State Boards/PCBs has to make assessment of compensation to be recovered from the polluting units for the period of last 5 years, taking into account the cost of restoration and cost of damage to the public health and environment and the deterrence element. No further industrial activities or expansion be allowed with regard to ‘red’ and ‘orange’ category units till the said areas are brought within the prescribed parameters or till carrying capacity of area is assessed and new units or expansion is found viable having regard to the carrying capacity of the area and environmental norms.
CPCB has been further directed to compile information with regard to polluted industrial areas based on water pollution norms, air pollution and other pollution norm separately and notify such information on public domain within three months.