action required to prevent pollution of the river Yamuna and the drains and tributaries connected

the Tribunal dealt with the issu in  order dated 27 January 2021

(Manoj Mishra vs Union of India and Others – OA No 6/2012). OA No 6 of

2012 related to remedial action required to prevent pollution of the river

Yamuna and the drains and tributaries connected in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar

Pradesh. In its order dated 19 March 2021, the Tribunal adopted various

directions which are extracted below:

“1. Independent assessment of flow in all the drains reaching

Yamuna be undertaken within next two months and

thereafter submit action plan for setting up STPs to bridge

the gap with definite and monitorable timelines.

2. Out of 427 MLD of treatment capacity in Sahibabad and

Loni STPs with only 80 MLD capacity are compliant to

standards. A direction to UP Jal Nigam, Ghaziabad MDA

and Ghaziabad Municipal Corporations to upgrade/

rehabilitate the STPs to meet revised environmental

standards of TSS/BOD:10/10 mg/L within next two years

and the authorities being directed to submit Action plan to

achieve this within next three months.

3. Stoppage of all sewage from sewered areas of Sahibabad

Banthala and Indira Puri as per the Action Plan prepared

by the State Government by December 20.

4. Implementation of Septage management by December 20

in all areas which are not sewered.

5. UPSIIDC be directed to ensure setting up CETPs and

ensure their proper functioning. UPPCB be directed to put

in place policy for realizations in case the industries failed

to pay. As requested by the UPPCB the arrears of unpaid

EC be directed to be realized as arrears of land revenue.

6. The YMC is unable to comment on the omnibus

compendium submitted for NMCG funding pertaining to

Phyto and Bio remediation. However, when approved the

drains which are polluting the Sahibabad and its tributary

drains need to be taken up if feasible. The reply of UP on

in-situ bio/phyto remediation is vague and does not

inspire confidence about the seriousness of the intent.

7. A direction is required to be given to the UP Irrigation

Engineer in Chief and the Principal Secretary Irrigation

relating to the inordinate delay in paying DDA for

undertaking the rejuvenation of the flood plains on the UP

side as a deposit work which was promised on several

occasions but has not made any headway in the last 7

months when one months time had been sought.