Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Mohd. Amjad & Others Vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Others dated 14/08/2023.

The grievance in the application is regarding severe water pollution at the Shukratal Ganga Ghat in Muzaffar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. M/s R.B.N.S. Sugar Mill Pvt. Ltd., Shekhpuri, Laksar, Uttarakhand and M/s R.B.N.S. Distillery Pvt. Ltd., Shekhpuri, Laksar, Uttarakhand is located upstream of Banganga river at Laksar Industrial area in district Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Both the industries are discharging highly polluting industrial effluents in drain which merges in Banganga river.

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Both the industry are in the habit "of releasing of toxic spent wash stored in their lagoon whenever they find opportunity. The process of illegal discharge has been going on for the last many years. The waste water is released in bulk quantity at Idrishpur drain which damages the entire ecosystem river of Banganga till the Shukratal ghat downstream," the application to the NGT, July 29, 2023 read.

In view of the averments made in the application, the NGT directed a joint committee to verify the factual position. The committee will comprise of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Regional Office, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and District Magistrates (DMs) of Haridwar and Muzaffarnagar. The committee after undertaking visits to the site, will verify the factual position including

• Details of industries located in Laksar Industrial area and Muzaffarnagar Industrial area which are discharging effluents in the drain connecting to the river Banganga,
• details of industries which were functioning without consent/EC,
• functioning of functioning of STP/ETP and other waste water treatment mechanism and
• mechanism for utilization of waste water for agriculture and other land use purposes rather than discharging in the drain.

A factual and action taken report has to be submitted within three months and the court listed the matter for further consideration on November 22, 2023.