The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of a news item relating to the presence of arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater in different areas of states.
The NGT had earlier impleaded all concerned states and union territories (UTs) as respondents in the matter and directed them to file their responses.
However, despite repeated directions, the states of Nagaland, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and the UT of Daman and Diu have not filed their responses.
The Tribunal has now directed the personal appearance of the Principal Secretaries, Department of PHE of these three states and one UT on the next date of hearing.
The Principal Bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava as chairperson, Justice Sudhir Agarwal as Judicial Members and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel has also directed the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to file a latest report based on subsequent samples, disclosing the position in respect of all concerned states/UTs, at least one week before the next date of hearing.
The matter has been listed for hearing on March 10, 2025.