The Times of India 02.03.2013
National Green Tribunal orders shutting of 34 drinking water plants
NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal
on Thursday ordered for shutting down 34 packaged drinking water
facilities in Noida and Greater Noida for extraction of groundwater and
functioning illegally without sanctions from any competent authority.
A bench of the tribunal passed the orders on a petition filed by an environmental activist Vikrant Tongad.
It had been alleged in the petition that ceaseless extraction of
groundwater has been leading to its rapid depletion. The tribunal has
also not lifted a ban imposed by it in January prohibiting extraction of
groundwater in the twin cities for construction activities or
otherwise.
The tribunal has ordered the Noida and Greater Noida
authorities to issue closure orders to 34 industries. “In the
affidavit, it has been specifically stated that these units besides
being polluting units, are also exploiting undergroundwater. This
apparently results in water scarcity,” the bench has observed in the
order.
The order further states that “all these units shall
stop operations forthwith and shall not carry on activities of packaging
drinking water by using underground water and without consent of the
pollution control board”.
