Notice to state chief secretaries on river area pollution concern.

New Delhi. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of all states and the Union Jal Shakti Ministry for non-compliance of the tribunal’s order regarding pollution of various river stretches across the country.

The NGT had in February 2021 directed the ministry to put in place appropriate mechanisms for effective monitoring of steps for pollution control and revitalization of all polluted river areas in the country. Further, states were directed to address the gaps in treatment of sewage and effluents by setting up adequate effluent treatment plants (ETPs), sewage treatment plants (STPs) and common effluent treatment plants (CETPS).

This matter was again placed before the NGT. To which the NGT said that the documents shown by the petitioner indicate that the tribunal’s order was not implemented by all the states. Therefore, we issue notices to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and the Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti with directions to submit reports regarding compliance of the above order of the Tribunal.