The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a serious note of the indiscriminate dumping of debris into the Satluj river and has constituted a joint committee of the State Pollution Control Board and the Forest Department to investigate the matter.
The committee has been ordered to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry and take remedial steps if any violation of environmental norms is found. The orders came in response to a letter written by a Chintala village resident, Meera Thakur, who has accused Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) of dumping the debris of the tunnel into the river in Sunni. A complaint has been made before the tribunal that a tunnel was being constructed from Marola to Chintala village and the project was being executed by the SJVNL.
She alleged that the debris from the tunnel construction was being thrown directly into the river. Along with the river, the adjoining forest was also being harmed, she alleged.
Taking cognisance of the letter, the tribunal tasked the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board and the Shimla Divisional Forest Officer to investigate the matter. The tribunal has held the State Pollution Control Board responsible for compliance of its orders. The tribunal has also called for an action taken report within two months.
The joint committee’s investigation is expected to play a crucial role in determining the facts and potential violations, ensuring that appropriate measures were taken to rectify the situation and prevent any further harm to the Satluj river and its surrounding environment.
