The Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal (NGT) has issued instructions to the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB) and State Air pollution Management Boards (SPCBs) of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, and Delhi to make sure the set up of On-line Steady Effluent Monitoring Techniques (OCEMS) in Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) which have didn’t adjust to environmental norms.
A bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr Afroz Ahmad (Professional Member) handed the order whereas listening to a petition filed by Advocate Imran Ahmad.
The petitioner alleged that regardless of repeated instructions from the CPCB, a number of GPIs throughout the 4 states proceed to discharge untreated effluents into very important water our bodies, together with the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, inflicting critical environmental degradation.
He acknowledged that round 1,700 industries are working with out putting in the obligatory OCEMS, that are essential for real-time monitoring of effluent high quality.
Referring to a Proper to Info (RTI) reply dated July 3, 2024, Ahmad identified that industries discharging greater than 10 kilolitres per day (KLD) of effluents should mandatorily set up OCEMS to watch parameters like pH, circulation, BOD, COD, and TSS, whereas these discharging lower than 10 KLD are required to suit circulation meters and internet cameras at outlet factors.
He additional relied on a CPCB communication dated September 2, 2024, which listed 149 defaulting GPIs in Delhi, 704 in Uttar Pradesh, 812 in Haryana, and 21 in Bihar, and claimed that regardless of this, the respective State Air pollution Management Boards and Air pollution Management Committees didn’t take concrete enforcement motion. His illustration dated March 8, 2025, to the CPCB Chairman additionally went unanswered, he advised the Tribunal.
After contemplating the submissions, the NGT directed the Chairman of CPCB to behave on the petitioner’s illustration and problem crucial instructions to all involved air pollution management authorities to make sure the rapid set up of OCEMS by all defaulting items.
The Tribunal ordered that Member Secretaries of the State Air pollution Management Boards of UP, Haryana, and Bihar, and the Delhi Air pollution Management Committee (DPCC) should submit compliance stories inside two months to CPCB.
The CPCB, in flip, has been directed to take remedial and punitive motion towards the defaulting items inside one month thereafter and submit a complete compliance report back to the Registrar Basic of the NGT inside three months through e mail.
The Tribunal stated that if required, the matter can be listed once more for additional consideration after overview of the compliance standing.
