NGT orders closure of 19 tanneries 

NGT orders closure of 19 tanneries 

Context

National green Tribunal’s latest order

What has happened?

The government added that since VCs are stored in an electronic format, this makes them vulnerable to hacking, loss of password, malware attacks, etc, which could also result in a permanent loss of money

High powered committee

A Bench headed by former Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar constituted a high-powered committee to inspect 61 industries and directed it to prepare a complete and comprehensive report on tanneries

• Mandate of the committee: The report would submit on source of water of these tanneries, consumption of water, whether any flow meters to the conveyor belts have been fixed and if they have permission from Central Ground Water Authority
• Members: The high powered committee would comprise Member Secretary of State Pollution Control Board, senior most environmental engineer, nominated by the chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, representative not below the rank of scientist from Environment Ministry and others
• Comprehensive report: This committee shall
  • Personally inspect all the 61 industries
  • Prepare a complete and comprehensive report stating inter-alia source of water, consumption of water
  • Whether any flow meters to the conveyor belts have been fixed or not
  • Whether unit has permission from Central Ground Water Authority or not
  • The number of tanning hides that are processed by the industry
  • Whether the unit is providing primary treatment
  • Whether the unit has its own chromium recovery plant
  • If the chromium is recovered, how it is utilised, mode of management
  • Disposal of sludge and ultimate point of discharge

What did the Bench say?

• We direct that the 19 industries which according to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, are non-compliant and are polluting and they have been found to be violating various parameters they are directed to be closed forthwith.
• “They would not be permitted to carry their manufacturing or any other tannery activity unless they submit appropriate application for obtaining the consent of the Board,” the Bench said.