Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Sudhan Das Vs State of Assam & Others dted 16/08/2021.

The matter related to discharge of sewerage and other wastes released by the boats and houseboats allowed to ply in the rivers Brahmaputra, Dibru and Dangori in Tinsukia district, Assam. Some of the boats have provisions for bio toilets for liquid waste, water from bore wells, organic solid waste utilized in piggery and plastic bottles are sold to local kabadi walas, remaining solid waste are disposed of through community bins and no passengers were plied since March 2020.

The court directed that the boat named M/s Royal Prince should not be allowed to ply in the river Dibru, as gross environmental violations were reported and the committee looking into the matter had recommended Rs. 2,25,000/- as environmental compensation. However, the environmental compensation has not been paid till date. The Tribunal also directed the Assam State Pollution Control Board to recover the compensation amount.