The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that the government should permanently resolve the pollution of Periyar, as it has been pending for eight years.
Justice K. The division bench of Ramakrishnan and expert member Sibal Dasgupta, in its latest order on March 9, told the bench that it should not be allowed to continue even in future. The order was issued in a case related to indiscriminate pollution. River’s. The tribunal asked the Chief Secretary, the State Pollution Control Board (PCB), and a joint committee of experts constituted for it to come up with the report before 17 May.
The bench said that the joint committee had not filed its report suggesting measures to curb pollution in Periyar. The action plan to be prepared by the government will depend on the recommendations of the committee as stated in a report filed by the government on 24 February.
It was pointed out that the committee needed more time to analyze samples taken from the river. The committee has requested the tribunal to give time till March 31 to submit a comprehensive report on various causes of river pollution. The government has agreed to submit the Periyar River Action Plan by 30 April.
The Bench reminded that the time-line provided for inspecting the river in two phases had already expired. The Joint Committee has been asked to file its report on remedial measures and share it with the government to prepare an action plan. The tribunal said that the PCB should file a status report on the level of pollution in Periyar. The agency must also submit its findings on the discharge of untreated sewage and wastes by industrial units and local bodies before 17 May.
Counsel for the Central Pollution Control Board (the nodal agency to conduct the study) told the bench that the committee’s report would be submitted as soon as possible.
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