Ghaziabad: The NGT on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Ghaziabad district administration and the municipal authorities over alarming levels of pollution in the town.
The tribunal asked why an environmental compensation should not be imposed on them for causing damage to environment due to their inaction. The notice was issued on a petition filed by Kaushambi Residents Welfare Association (KARWA).
The tribunal examined a report submitted by an expert committee which highlighted alarming level of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 in the town. The report, a copy of which is with TOI, says that the town recorded PM10 levels as high as 312 against the normal 100 and PM2.5 as steep as 204 against the normal 60.
Kaushambi does not have an air pollution measuring system, though it's adjacent to the highly polluted AnandVihar and also close to the Ghazipur landfill.
The NGT issued the notices to the district magistrate, senior superintendent of police, vice-chairman of the Ghaziabad Development Authority, municipal commissioner and the regional manager of the UPSRTC, seeking a reply within two weeks. "It also issued the notice to the deputy commissioner, East Delhi and municipal commissioner, East Delhi," said Ajay Kohli, counsel for KARWA.
"The samples were collected from three spots on April 10 and 11 to ascertain the level of pollution," said Vinay Kumar Mittal, president of the RWA body. "The report was shocking as PM10 on April 11 was found to be three times more than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and PM2.5 on the same day was 204 against the normal 60," Mittal further said.
The report also calls for strict enforcement of all rules and regulations related to decongestion of roads and a stop illegal plying of private buses, autos and Vikrams, ban on unauthorized parking, a robust civic waste disposal system and a proper garbage segregation mechanism. The next hearing is on May 13.
