A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar impleaded Ministry of Environment and Forests in the case and issued notices to Uttar Pradesh government, Department of Environment, UP Pollution Control Board, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and others while seeking their replies by February 4.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by environment activist Shailesh Singh who has moved NGT against "illegal" operation of slaughterhouses in Aligarh, Bulandshahr, Sambhal and Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.
"As per official records, more than 8.5 lakhs cattle are slaughtered annually in Uttar Pradesh from its 115 registered abattoirs. However, a bare perusal of the records of total export made by the State shows that it is several times higher than the amount mentioned in the records and data maintained by UP," Singh said in his petition.
The plea, filed through advocate Sudeep Day, also highlights the issue of illegal extraction of ground water by slaughter houses without the requisite permission from the competent authorities and raises the issue of air pollution caused by the release of toxic fumes emitted from furnaces to extract animal bone fat.
"Furthermore these areas are all 'notified areas' in terms of guidelines issued by CGWA and according to which extraction of ground water in such areas is prohibited for any other purpose (including commercial) except for drinking," the plea said.