Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding disposal of sewage water at village Kot Khurd, Jalandhar, Punjab, 11/09/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Gurmail Singh Vs State of Punjab & Others dated 11/09/2020.
The proceedings were for execution of order August 5, 2019 in 492/2019. Vide NGT order of March 4, 2020, a factual and action taken report was sought from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) with reference to the allegation of non-removal of dirty sludge and sewage water from the residential area at village Kot Khurd, Jalandhar, Punjab.
Accordingly, the PPC filed its report September 1, 2020 to the effect that the Panchayati Raj Department had taken a decision on the matter. The decision involved preparing a plan for connecting the sewage line for flow of entire effluent of the village to the pond situated on outskirt of the village.
The NGT was of the opinion that the decision of the PPCB permitting discharge of waste water/effluent in a pond from the outskirts of the village was not in terms of the mandate of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. "Discharge of waste water in pond cannot be without treatment, to avoid contamination of ground water which needs to be ensured by the State PCB," the order said. Further, the court asked the Committee headed by Justice Jasbir Singh, former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court who has been appointed to look into certain environmental issues in the state of Punjab to oversee this aspect.