The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of polluted water coming out from hand pumps and borewells of Sanwer Road Industrial area in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
The petition is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item dated 13.08.2024.
Ground water in this area contained large quantity of sulphate, nitrogen, and magnesium. In June 2023 M.P.PCB had carried out sampling at Kumedi, Bardari, Dhankhedi, Shakkarkhedi, Niranjanpur along with 53 locations in an area of 20 km for one year and prepared a report of total 636 samples where 3 lakh people are living. As per the report TDS level in water ranged from 2000 to 3600 mg/l whereas water is fit for drinking at 600 mg/l. Due to drinking of this polluted water, the local residents are suffering from allergy, hair fall, bone, teeth and intestinal diseases.
It is reported that there are 400 industries mainly electroplating, chemical, confectionary and Pharma units using acid in large quantities responsible for polluted water, out of them action has been taken only on 7 industries. Several investigations carried out with respect to discharge of waste water into Narwar and Bhaurasala drains and Kanh river and notices have been served to 50 industries for closure and 7 have been sealed. Maximum samples were collected from public boring, hand pumps and wells which indicated high level of pollution of ground water between Ramnagar Sector A, F and Kumedi village.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Member Secretary, MPPCB.
ii. Regional Officer, MoEF & CC Bhopal
iii. District Magistrate, Indore
iv. Member Secretary, CPCB.
v. Member Secretary, Madhya Pradesh State Ground Water Authority.
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents.
Since the matter relates to the Central Zonal Bench, Bhopal, therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Central Zonal Bench for appropriate further action.Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Central Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 30.09.2024.