Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding violation of environmental norms by M/s Jublient Group of Industries at Gajraula, District Amroha, Uttr Pradesh, 01/11/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Shah Alam Vs State of Uttar Pradesh dated 01/11/2019 regarding violation of environmental norms by M/s Jublient Group of Industries at Gajraula, District Amroha, Uttr Pradesh, affecting the health of the inhabitants.
A joint Committee of the CPCB, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Health Department - District Administration, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, Horticulture Department and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra - Amroha have submitted report dated September 13, 2019.
The Committee had carried out inspection of 7 industries of the group which includes a coal based power plant, distillery unit, fertilizer unit, polymer unit and chemical units. With regard to captive power plant, it was observed that the plant failed to meet emissions norms with respect to NO2 and the molasses based distillery had no permission to extract ground water after April 4, 2019.
The report further noted that the area in question had deteriorated from semi critical to over exploited. "In such a situation, while extraction of groundwater for drinking purposes may stand on different footing, there is no absolute right for such extraction for industrial purposes. Such extraction may lead to further deterioration of limited groundwater resource depriving the inhabitants of access to drinking water," the NGT order said.
The NGT also made it clear that remedial actions had to be taken for complying with the mandate of law "if the units are to continue to function consistent with ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Precautionary’ principles" and that the activities of units have to be suitably regulated, stoppped or restricted as the case may be.
The Joint Committee of the CPCB and the UPPCB had been directed to file further action taken report within two months.