New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed country's anti-pollution watchdog to inspect and initiate action against polluting industries in Greater Noida's Chhapraula Industrial Area.
A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to act against the illegal units operating in the area.
"State and Central Pollution Control Boards respectively shall inspect the area referred in the application and initiate action in accordance with law against the industries which have been particularly identified therein as operating without permission. The action taken report shall be placed before us on the next date of hearing," the bench said while fixing the matter for next hearing on May 11.
The tribunal's direction came while 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.
During the hearing, Nagar said 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 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 and other kidney diseases, skin allergy, jaundice, cholera because of carcinogenic elements present in the ground water," the plea said.