The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday warned of complete closure of 700 tanneries located on the banks of river Ganga at Kanpur, terming them as one of the “highest sources of pollution”.
The tribunal also observed that if effective steps to curb the pollution level was not taken then the tanneries would be closed as “life of millions cannot be put at stake.”
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed inspection of the entire tannery industrial cluster by a team comprising representatives of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
Directing the team to collect and analyse effluents being discharged into the river, the bench said the team should submit a report on next date of hearing on January 29 on the most effective way to prevent and control pollution in the river from these industrial clusters.
“The life of millions cannot be put at stake for carrying out a commercial activity for a group of individuals. Balance has to be struck and we would not hesitate in striking off that balance between
development and environment,” it said.
The tribunal also observed that if effective steps to curb the pollution level was not taken then the tanneries would be closed as “life of millions cannot be put at stake.”
A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, directed inspection of the entire tannery industrial cluster by a team comprising representatives of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
Directing the team to collect and analyse effluents being discharged into the river, the bench said the team should submit a report on next date of hearing on January 29 on the most effective way to prevent and control pollution in the river from these industrial clusters.
“The life of millions cannot be put at stake for carrying out a commercial activity for a group of individuals. Balance has to be struck and we would not hesitate in striking off that balance between
development and environment,” it said.