National Green Tribunal forms committee to find causes of pollution

NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal constituted an expert body on Tuesday to determine the 'causes' and 'extent' of environmental pollution in Noida, which 'is certainly affecting the life of residents'. The tribunal passed the order on a petition filed by a Noida resident alleging high levels of environmental pollution in the city. The committee, to be headed by a joint secretary-level official of the Union environment ministry, will comprise, among others, the member secretaries of the CPCB and the UPPCB and a technical expert to be appointed by the Noida Authority.

The committee is to submit its report within four weeks listing information on factors causing industrial or other kinds of pollution. tnn It was constituted after appeals by UPPCB and Noida Entrepreneurs' Association that environmental pollution in Noida is equally attributable to construction activities, natural content of soil in the region and vehicular pollution.

The committee has been asked to conduct surprise inspections on around 35 industries, particularly those that are emanating smoke and gases into the air or discharging effluents into drains, rivers or underground water reservoirs, among others. All stakeholders in the case, including the Noida Authority, the MoEF, the CPCB and the UPPCB, have been directed to file objections, if any, to an 'action plan' devised by them in October 2012 to reduce pollution in the city.