The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) to take action against a Noida-based water bottling unit for extracting groundwater without requisite permission since 2009.
A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim passed the order recently after the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) said that the water supplier, Beltek Canadian Water Ltd, had not obtained the CGWA’s consent.
“CGWA is directed to take appropriate action, pass appropriate orders as permissible under law and file report before the next date of hearing after serving copy to the applicant,” the bench, also comprising Expert Member Nagin Nanda, said.
UPPCB’s counsel told the NGT that a joint inspection by the board and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that the unit was extracting groundwater from the sensitive area without permission.
The matter is now listed for hearing on July 11.
The green panel had earlier imposed an environment compensation of Rs 10 lakh on the water bottling unit.
It had ordered a joint inspection of Beltek Canadian Water by the CPCB and the UPPCB to ascertain the exact number of tubewells installed at the unit and the quantity of water extracted.
It had directed the inspection team to specify the quantity of the water extracted, the nature of pollutants discharged from the factory and whether the area was over- exploited.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Shailesh Singh, through advocate Sudeep Dey, alleging that the unit located in Bisrakh block of Gautam Buddh Nagar district was extracting groundwater through borewells installed in the factory premises without permission from the CGWA.
( Source – PTI )
