Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution of Sadar talab, Kadaura, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, 13/01/2021
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Pushpendra Kumar Vs Nagarpanchayat, Kadaura & Others dated 13/01/2021.
The matter related to restoration of a water body called the main pond (Sadar Bazar) of Kadaura town, district Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. It is stated that such restoration is necessary for access to drinking water. Direction is also sought to stop continuous burning of solid plastic waste, garbage cans, electronics waste, glass inside the residential area of town Kadaura that emits poisonous gases causing severe air pollution.
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) filed a report dated June 18, 2020 acknowledging that the Sadar Talab Kadaura was fully covered by the vegetation of Jal Kumbhi. Sewage of Kadaura Nagar Panchayat was being disposed of into Sadar Talab due to which the water quality of Sadar Talab was affected.
The Executive Officer, Nagar Panchayat, Kadaura vide letter has stated that Nagar Panchayat Kadaura is a small local body and would install STP as soon as the budget was sanctioned in future. Similarly, action plan for construction of MRF centre for solid waste management has been sent to District Magistrate for approval.
A further report was filed by the UPPCB on January 8, 2021 stating that the action plan has been prepared by the District Magistrate for restoration of the pond to be executed through a Joint Committee. An inspection carried out on November 20, 2020 found removal of some encroachments.
The applicant has filed objections to the UPPCB report. The applicant has said that not even a single brick of temporary and constructed encroachment has been removed. All four big drains - Ramghat drain, Chtela Marg drain, main market drain and purana Bajar drain including the sewage of illegal occupant's shops and houses are still falling into the Sadar Talab.
The NGT has directed that the factual position be verified and further remedial steps be taken by the District Magistrate, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh. The Oversight Committee constituted by the Tribunal for environmental issues in Uttar Pradesh, headed by Justice SVS Rathore, a former Judge of the Allahabad High Court at Lucknow, would oversee the compliance. The District Magistrate, Jalaun may furnish a further action taken report with regard to execution of the action plan already prepared or which may now be revised to the Oversight Committee within two months.