Yamuna: NGT asks govt to produce records on STPs

The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed the Delhi government and all public authorities to produce complete records on <g data-gr-id="30">installation</g> of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the Capital.

A Bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed all the concerned officers to be present along with the complete report as to whether the private players were willing to carry on with the project on STPs.

“The Principal Committee, Chief Secretary, Delhi, Chairman and heads of all the public organisations will be present in chamber meeting on September 14,” the Bench said. 

The Tribunal had in January constituted the Principal Committee which would be responsible for implementation of the ‘Maili <g data-gr-id="27">se</g> Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.

The committee consists of secretary of the environment and forests ministry, joint secretary of the ministry of water resources, chief secretary of Delhi, vice-chairman DDA, commissioners of all corporations and the secretaries of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The green panel also directed the head of the committee Shashi Shekhar, who is also the secretary in the ministry of water resources, to be present in the meeting. Irked by the blame game by various departments within the state, the Tribunal had earlier imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on Delhi government for not following its orders on implementation of ‘Maili <g data-gr-id="33">se</g> Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017’.

It had directed that the fine imposed on the city government would be recovered from the salaries of highest officials of concerned departments.

Observing that Yamuna restoration has to move on a priority basis and cannot be put at the convenience of the authorities, the green panel slammed various departments and termed as ‘unfortunate’ the failure of state agencies to comply with its various directions.