The NGT has set up an expert body to find the reasons behind high-pollution levels in Noida, after Uttar Pradesh authorities said this was not due to industries alone and factors like construction activities and vehicular emissions were equally responsible.
The expert committee was constituted by the bench headed by National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar in order to find out the reasons behind the submission made by the ministry of environment and forests, in an affidavit, that Noida is a seriously polluted area.
“The most pertinent question that has to be examined by the tribunal is as to what are the reasons for the averments made in the affidavit of the MoEF.
“We must have complete information of the factors causing industrial or other pollution in Noida which is admittedly and certainly affecting the life of the residents of Noida.
“Keeping this in mind, we constitute an expert body which shall report to the tribunal as to the extent of the pollution and the causes for the pollution in Noida,” the NGT said and listed the matter for further hearing on February 19.
The bench also comprising its judicial member Justice P Jyothimani and expert members G K Pandey, D K Agarwal and A R Yousuf has directed the expert body to conduct surprise inspection of 30-35 industries which are discharging smoke and other effluents into the air and water in Noida.
The tribunal has also directed that the expert body has to submit, within four weeks, its report containing the extent of pollution as well as the causes for the same and will also include the kind of fuel used by the units and the type of hazardous waste generated by them.
The bench has also said the tribunal’s interim order of April 11, 2012 shall remain in force.
On April 11, last year, the NGT had ruled that no fresh environmental clearance would be granted to new industrial units or for expansion of any operating industry in Noida without its consent.
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