Una industrial area: NGT says reports by officials ‘cryptic’

Rohit Mullick / Sep 23, 2024, 04:47 IST

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Una industrial area: NGT says reports by officials ‘cryptic’

Kullu: Terming the status reports filed by R D Nazeem, principal secretary, Himachal Pradesh industries department, and Pawnesh Kumar, principal chief conservator of forests, as “cryptic”, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the two officials to submit detailed replies within the next two weeks in the ongoing case of alleged violations of environmental norms in setting up of the industrial area at Haroli in Una district.
In an order dated Sept 19, Justice Sudhir Agarwal observed that though both the officers had filed the reports, “the replies do not give entire facts and in fact are cryptic responses”. The order further directs the officials to file detailed replies “incorporating all aspects of the matter, particularly, showing compliance with the conditions of the Ministry of Environment and Forests for diversion of land and also conditions of environmental clearance.”
The two officials, who were present during the Sept 19 hearing, were also directed by the NGT to remain present through virtual mode during the next hearing in the case. They were even fined Rs 10,000 each by the NGT for failing to appear in person before the tribunal earlier this month.
The duo had failed to comply with the NGT orders issued during the last hearing in the case on Aug 9. The tribunal had directed both the officials to appear in person during the case hearing on Sept 6 and to explain to the tribunal about “the felling of trees and the failure of the state govt to build a common effluent treatment plant (CETP)” in the industrial area of Haroli in Una district.

Requesting the NGT’s intervention, the petitioner had also stated that a CETP of 5 MLD capacity was proposed for the industrial area, but it had not been constructed.
In his recent reply, Nazeem had stated that it would be a sheer wastage of money if a CETP was established in the Pandoga industrial area as the effluent discharge was negligible. Nazeem though admitted that a CETP was proposed for the industrial area near Haroli in Una district, but the proposal had been kept in abeyance. The NGT has fixed Oct 19 as the next date of hearing in the case.

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