The National Green Tribunal has directed country's anti-pollution watchdog Central Pollution Control Board and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to conduct a joint inspection of polluting industries in Greater Noida's Chhapraula Industrial Area.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to Metenere Limited, Atlas Casting, Assomac Machines Ltd and Kawatra Papers Pvt Ltd to show cause "why directions be not issued for their closure in accordance with law" for causing pollution.
The tribunal's direction came while perusing a status report filed by UPPCB which stated that four units fell in red category and were causing severe pollution.
The report said that Sri Ram Motors (Tata Motors), JD Industries India Ltd, Sree Ram Industries and Luxmi Industries fell in orange category (moderately polluting).
"We direct the joint inspection team of CPCB and UPPCB to conduct an inspection comprehensively and submit a report along with analysis reports to the Tribunal before the next date of hearing," the bench said while fixing the matter for hearing on July 15.
The green panel was hearing a plea filed by Greater Noida resident Yogesh Nagar alleging large-scale pollution and contamination of ground water caused by industries in the Chhapraula Industrial Area.
Nagar had earlier claimed that polluting industries which he named in his plea are not in the list of the Pollution Control Board and they are "clandestinely" operating without any permission.
The plea filed through advocate Rahul Choudhary alleged that several industries located in Greater Noida have violated the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act of 1974 and the Environment Protection Act of 1986.
The industries in this area are also extracting ground water without any permission resulting in fall in ground water table, Nagar had claimed.
"The violation of these laws by several industries in the vicinity has led to severe health issues among the villagers because of cancer and other deadly diseases.
"Many residents of Bisrakh Block are suffering from deadly diseases like cancer, hepatitis, kidney stone, skin allergy, jaundice, cholera because of carcinogenic elements present in the ground water," the plea had claimed.
