Team Herald
PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench has directed all the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to finalise action plans with regard to polluted industrial clusters within three months and to adopt coercive measures including recovery of compensation for the damage to the environment on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle.
Taking cognizance of a media report nationally, NGT said that while industrial development invariably creates more jobs in any region, such development has to be sustainable and compliant with the norms of environment; and in absence of this awakening or tendency for monitoring, industrialization has led to environmental degradation on account of industrial pollution.
“We direct the SPCBs/ Committees to finalize the time bound action plans with regard to identified polluted industrial clusters in accordance with the revised norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to restore environmental qualities within norms,” reads the order issued last month.
“Such action plan be finalized within three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order,” it added.
“Needless to say, that it will be open to the SPCBs/Committees and CPCB to take coercive measures including recovery of compensation for the damage to the environment on ‘Polluter Pays’ principle as well as also to direct taking of such precautionary measures as may be necessary on the basis of ‘Precautionary principle’,” bench added.
State Chief Secretary’s are directed to constitute special Committee, with representation from various departments, to prepare the action plan.
“The final preparation of the action plan including its execution may be overseen by the Chief Secretary of the concerned State, along with the other connected major environmental issues of the States, such as pollution of river stretches, non-attainment cities in terms of air quality and solid waste management, utilization of treated sewage, etc,” the order mentioned.
The matter is fixed for consideration of report drafted by MOEF and CPCB based on SPCB, on July 8.
