Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item published in "The Asian Age" Authored by Sanjay Kaw Titled "CPCB to rank industrial units on pollution levels" dated 14/11/2019.

The question for consideration is remedial action for control of pollution in identified polluted industrial clusters in compliance of earlier order of the Tribunal dated July 10, 2019 requiring the statutory authorities to take action by way closure, prosecution and recovery of compensation from identified polluters in polluted industrial clusters.

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The NGT directed that "meaningful action" has to be taken by the State Pollution Control Board's/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) and action taken report should be furnished showing the number of identified polluters in polluted industrial areas, the extent of closure of polluting activities, the extent of environmental compensation recovered, the cost of restoration of the damage to the environment of the said areas. Failure to do their duty, would result in coercive action against the Chairmen and the Member Secretaries of the State PCBs/PCCs

"Such action may include replacement of persons heading such PCBs/PCCs or direction for stopping their salaries till meaningful action for compliance of order of this Tribunal. The Tribunal may also consider deterrent compensation to be recovered from the State PCBs/PCCs," the order added.

The Central Pollution Control Board has been asked to prepare a consolidated report before February 15, 2020. Mechanism for expansion and new activities by red and orange category of industries in critically/ severely polluted areas should be looked into by the CPCB, so that pollution load could be brought down, the Tribunal said.