Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding discharge of untreated sewage in water bodies, Niwari, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 17/07/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Vivek Tyagi Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others dated 17/07/2020 regarding compliance of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and preventing discharge of untreated sewage in water bodies, including ponds and Upper Ganga Canal, endangering public health in Niwari town, 20 kms from Ghaziabad.
A report was filed by the Central Pollution Control Board on February 4, 2020 based on a site inspection.
Noticing deficiencies, the report recommended some steps, which include the following:
1. Low lying areas shall be filled up with the construction waste materials and the silt obtained by desilting of the existing ponds. Also, after filling and levelling the area should be covered with soil.
2. Regular cleaning of the drains shall be carried out for removal of municipal solid waste to ensure continuous flow.
3. Regular cleaning and de-weeding of the ponds shall be carried out.
4. Side wall of the drain, near pond 3 shall be repaired to ensure no discharge/seepage of sewage in the pond.
5. Small low-lying area which was earlier used for fish seeding, connected with pond 2 and covered with algae shall be cleaned.
6. At Siwal Khas area, around the Upper Ganga Canal, Municipal Solid waste dumped on the sides of escape channel, should be cleaned and the solid waste should be properly managed.
An action taken report was filed by the Nagar Panchayat, Niwari on July 16, 2020, wherein it stated that the drain connecting pond has been cleaned and work of removing floating weed has started. Water from another pond has been pumped out to a drain and the process of phytoremediation is being planned. A third pond was in the process of being desilted and the construction of a wall has been completed. A polluting factory near the waterbodies has been closed and with respect to solid waste management, waste is being collected and composting done.
The NGT directed that further steps be taken for compliance of environmental norms. The Oversight Committee, headed by Justice SVS Rathore, former Judge of the Allahabad High Court at Lucknow, would look into the status of compliance after three months and give its independent report on the matter.