Coal mines and thermal plants in Singrauli and Sonebhadra districts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are not conforming to waste disposal rules while disposing of hazardous waste, the National Green Tribunal has been told by a panel set up by it.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had set up the five-member panel to inspect industries in the two industrial districts and report their impact on environment on a plea by advocate Ashwani Dubey who opposed the mining and power projects there for allegedly causing pollution and serious ailments to residents.
The panel was directed by NGT to see if the industries, which include Essar, Hindalco and Reliance' Sasan Ultra Mega Power project, are adhering to prescribed parameters of emissions and also assess their cumulative impact on the environment.
The panel, headed by a member secretary of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), visited the districts on February 9 and 10 and found that "procedure being followed by the industries regarding management of hazardous waste do not conform to provisions of Hazardous Waste (management) Rules".
The panel, in its report tabled before the tribunal, has also found lapses in the disposal as well as management of fly ash generated by the power plants in the area.
Dry abandoned ash ponds in the area were found to be left open without provision of proper vegetation cover, the panel has said, adding trucks with excess loads of coal and without proper cover, were found to be spilling coal and fly ash during transportation.
