Yamuna revitalisation: NGT imposes Rs 1L fine on Delhi govt

Irked by the blame game by various departments within the state, the National Green Tribunal today imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Delhi government for not following its orders on implementation of "Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017".
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed that the fine imposed on the city government would be recovered from salaries of highest officials of concerned departments.
The green panel also directed the Chief Secretary of Delhi government to hold a meeting of concerned departments within three months on the issue of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

It also asked the city government and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to shut down all illegal industries operating in residential as well as industrial areas within two weeks.
Observing that Yamuna restoration has to move on a priority basis and cannot be put at the convenience of the authorities, the green panel slammed the various departments and termed as 'unfortunate' the failure of state agencies to comply with its various directions.
The Tribunal pulled public authorities including Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), DPCC and others over the status of common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) in 11 industrial clusters in the national capital.

The Tribunal's direction came after Delhi government and other concerned departments failed to satisfy the bench about the functioning of 11 industrial clusters in the national capital.
The bench had on August 5 directed DJB, DSIIDC, DPCC and all other concerned authorities to hold a meeting and report it about the status of 11 industrial clusters which were allegedly not connected to any CETP and discharging effluents into the drain and causing pollution in Yamuna.
When the bench sought details, the authorities could not give a clear answer on whether they were connected to any ETP and were releasing the effluents or not.