Centre moves NGT against five municipal bodies on pollution norms

NEW DELHI: In the first such action against civic bodies for non-compliance on anti-pollution measures, the environment ministry has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against five municipal bodies of Uttar Pradesh — Mirzapur, Chunar, Bhadoi, Fatehpur and Hastinapur — seeking directions to the erring officials who have not taken measures on sewage treatment issues.

Environment minister Prakash Javadekar informed this on Wednesday to the gathering of representatives of the state pollution control boards during a workshop here, seeking to sensitise them about provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and how the non-compliance may put erring officials in trouble.

The NGT will take up the case next week.


Javadekar also proposed to set up an air pollution research institute to study the impact of pollution in the country.

“We need to do some research on air pollution as we do in other fields. So, we have thought of creating a new air pollution research institute ... It will provide added information to the people and to the government, which will help us in better governance,” Javadekar said.

Stating that the government wants to provide ‘ease of doing responsible business’ without compromising on pollution-related challenges, he said that a discussion on the concept of development without destruction, sustainable development; discussion on air pollution, industrial pollution, sand mining, pollution of rivers and waste managetrement was a good development, as it increases awareness in the society.

Asking states to tighten the noose around municipal corporations for not complying with environment rules, Javadekar said, “We can close the industry if it does not comply. Though we have the powers to take action against the municipalities (erring officials of the civic bodies) also, if they violate rules, but we cannot do that in public interest. So, the environment ministry has filed a complaint in the NGT against five such violating municipal bodies."