Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Ajay Kumar Vs Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board & Others dated 04/11/2022.

The applicant, Ajay Kumar said that in district Haridwar, Uttrakhand, a large number of brick kilns are operating illegally without having requisite consent/NOC/clearance from the appropriate statutory regulations. "More than 190 brick kilns are operating in the area without complying with the requirement of environmental norms," the applicant said.

Further, the applicant also placed information received from RTI on record to show that out of 195 brick kilns identified by the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board only 14 brick kilns have valid consent and rest are operating illegally, still no action has been taken by officials of State PCB.

The NGT directed the constitution of a joint committee comprising Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and District Magistrate, Haridwar. The committee is required to submit a report within one month.

The report should give particulars as to what remedial or preventive action has been taken against brick kilns running illegally in district Haridwar. The report besides others, shall also give relevant facts on the aspects of citing criteria, and air carrying capacity in accordance with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Notification, February 22, 2022.

The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board has to submit a response to explain why when they have identified 195 brick kilns running in district Haridwar, out of which only 14 brick kilns have valid consent - appropriate action was not taken. If any action has been taken, details should be furnished, the NGT added.