Another UP agency slammed for flouting environment norms

New Delhi: Two months after ordering a CBI probe against Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (UPJN) over irregularities related to cleaning Ganga, the NGT on Friday slammed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for granting permission to several polluting industries.

Issuing notice to the UPPCB, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked its officials why a fine must not be imposed and action be taken against them as they permitted industries polluting river Bagad and Ganga's tributaries for years.

The bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar slammed the state agency mandated to check and curb pollution, as it shut down 13 polluting industries in Gajraula in the state's Amroha district and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on three of them.

"Why cost shouldn't be imposed on you and action not taken against your officials for granting permission to such industries which have been causing pollution over all these years," the bench said.

In February, the Tribunal ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against UPJN officials, after it found that the Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) on the drains discharging the effluent into the Ganga were constructed without any field work, inspection or understanding the nature of the effluents being discharge.

"You sit and keep wasting public money. How shameless can you be. Ganga is not cleaned because of officers like you," it had said.

- IANS