NGT directs Punjab Govt to pay Rs. 50 Crore for River Pollution in Sutlej, Beas rivers [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi recently directed the Punjab government to pay Rs 50 crore for pollution caused to the Sutlej and Beas rivers owing to industrial and municipal pollutants..The pollution of these rivers was found to have adversely affected eight districts in Rajasthan and the Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts in Punjab. Over 1,300 hazardous waste generating industries as well as 17 categories of industries were found to have contributed to this pollution..The order was passed last week by Bench headed by Chairperson AK Goel and Members SP Wangdi (Judicial) and Dr Nagin Nanda (Expert)..During the pendency of the application originally filed in 2014, the NGT had constituted a Monitoring Committee with the Central Pollution Control Board as the Nodal Agency. This Committee comprised representatives of the Rajasthan and Punjab Pollution Control Boards and the Urban Development Department of Punjab..The interim report filed by the Committee pointed towards a dismal state of affairs when it came to the functioning of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) to counter the polluting effects of discharge from industrial and other buildings. The various problems noted by this Committee, as highlighted in the NGT order, included the following:.“…lack of sewage system, non-availability of STPs and lack of appropriate technology and capacity, lack of waste water treatment, lack of skilled man power, non-sustainable approach in designing of sewage management projects…solid waste is not properly handled and is dumped on open sites causing a serious threat to the environment and also choking the flow of the water bodies. Bio-medical waste as well as hazardous waste are not properly managed. There is also illegal mining in the flood plain/river basins.”.The NGT observed that the damage caused thereby would run to at least Rs 50 crores. Therefore, applying the Polluter Pays Principle, the responsibility to compensate for the same was thrust upon the Punjab government..“There is no reason not to accept the findings in the report to the effect that huge damage has been caused to the environment particularly the water bodies as well to the inhabitants…Even on a conservative estimate, learned counsel for the parties suggest and we find no reason to disagree that the damage in monetary terms will not be less than Rs. 50 crores..On “Polluter Pays” principle, the State of Punjab is directed to deposit a sum of Rs. 50 crores with the Central Pollution Control Board within one month from today for being spent on restoration of the environment as well for relief to the victims. The State of Punjab is at liberty to prepare an action plan to recover the amount from the erring industries, local bodies, individuals and also the erring officers.“.The Monitoring Committee was directed to suggest ways in which the above amount may be spent for restoration of the environment and for public health or other issues in the area..Local authorities of the concerned districts in Punjab were also made jointly responsible to prevent any further damage and to take remedial steps so that the quality of water in the affected areas of the Sutlej and Beas are brought within the prescribed standards within six months. The nodal officer for these activities is the Secretary of the local bodies..Further, the NGT also ordered that prosecution may be initiated against violators and that the punitive action taken consequently may include closure of polluting industries, disciplinary and penal action against erring officers, etc..The Committee is also expected to file a report by the end of January 2019. The report is to deal with short term and long term plans, including three monthly targets, to deal with the pollution problem..The matter will be taken up by the NGT next in February 2019..Read the Order: