New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal today summoned the collector of Rajasthan’s Pali district to explain the steps taken by the administration to control the pollution caused in Bandi river due to textile industries.
A vacation bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore directed the collector to be present in person on June 18 and asked him to give a time bound programme to control the discharge of effluents as suggested by a committee formed by it.
The tribunal had constituted a monitoring committee of four members which had recommended that no treated or untreated industrial effluent should be allowed to be discharged in the river or on adjacent land in any form.
It had also said that individual industries should periodically monitor the quality of effluent discharged from the primary treatment facilities for the smooth and efficient operation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants.
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The NGT after perusing the recommendations had directed the collector to study the committee report and thereafter visit the site to see as to whether the deficiencies pointed out by it have been rectified or not.
Today, the tribunal noted that no effort has been made with regard to the deficiencies and the situation remains same on the ground.
On perusal of the report, it is revealed that no effort has been made with regard to the deficiencies and the situation remains same, as it was at the time of the visit of the monitoring committee. In respect of the deficiencies to be removed by the Common Effluent Treatment Plant, Pali, only an assurance has been conveyed through this report.
Therefore, we direct the collector, Pali, Rajasthan to be present in person on the next date. He should prepare a chart showing the deficiencies pointed out by the monitoring committee and the corresponding steps were taken by all concerned, since April, 2018, the bench said.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Kisan Paryavaran Sangharsh Samiti alleging that textile units have caused pollution in Bandi river.
A study of surface and groundwater in Pali, conducted by Centre for Science and Environment in 2008, found almost 80 per cent sampled unfit for drinking.
The samples showed high alkaline and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels, indicating dangerous levels of organic pollutants. The quantity of total dissolved solids was four times higher than the standard. The case was transferred to NGT from the Jodhpur High Court in 2012.
