 "Clean Yamuna project: NGT forms panel to inspect five DJB STPs")
The National Green Tribunal today constituted a five-member committee to inspect Delhi Jal Board (DJB's) five sewage treatment plants (STPs), which are covered under first phase of clean river Yamuna project, to look into the effluent discharge and quantum of input and output.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said that the panel, comprising Member (secretary) of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Member (secretary) of Delhi Pollution Control Committee, a scientist from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and two professors, would file a report before it on the working of these STPs.
It also asked the committee to conduct an inspection within a week and to see whether water treated at these STPs could be recycled.
He said there were five projects where 90% or more work have been completed. The Tribunal has fixed the matter for hearing on May 18.
The green panel had earlier warned the DJB officials not to play "smart game" on the issues concerning pollution in river Yamuna.
"For the past one and a half year, we are grappling with this problem which has been generated by your client (DJB). Tell your officers not to play smart game with us. This is causing us a lot of concern. Your client is causing suspicion," the bench had said.
The bench is monitoring the implementation of its 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project'. In order to keep the Yamuna river clean, DJB had last year started trial run of its newly-constructed 15 MGD waste water treatment plant at Delhi Gate Nullah.
The Tribunal had earlier rapped DJB for spending money on Yamuna without its permission and directed it not to spend a "single penny" on rejuvenation of river without its nod.
It had also directed DJB not to surrender the amount allocated to it in the last fiscal for rejuvenation of Yamuna by Dellhi government and asked it to spend the funds for implementation of its 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project'.
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said that the panel, comprising Member (secretary) of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Member (secretary) of Delhi Pollution Control Committee, a scientist from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and two professors, would file a report before it on the working of these STPs.
It also asked the committee to conduct an inspection within a week and to see whether water treated at these STPs could be recycled.
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The Tribunal's direction came after senior advocate H S Phoolka, who appeared for DJB, said that they have filed an annexure along with an affidavit giving details of the ongoing works carried out by the board.
He said there were five projects where 90% or more work have been completed. The Tribunal has fixed the matter for hearing on May 18.
The green panel had earlier warned the DJB officials not to play "smart game" on the issues concerning pollution in river Yamuna.
"For the past one and a half year, we are grappling with this problem which has been generated by your client (DJB). Tell your officers not to play smart game with us. This is causing us a lot of concern. Your client is causing suspicion," the bench had said.
The bench is monitoring the implementation of its 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project'. In order to keep the Yamuna river clean, DJB had last year started trial run of its newly-constructed 15 MGD waste water treatment plant at Delhi Gate Nullah.
The Tribunal had earlier rapped DJB for spending money on Yamuna without its permission and directed it not to spend a "single penny" on rejuvenation of river without its nod.
It had also directed DJB not to surrender the amount allocated to it in the last fiscal for rejuvenation of Yamuna by Dellhi government and asked it to spend the funds for implementation of its 'Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project'.