New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to authorities on a plea alleging non-compliance with its earlier directions to curb the discharge of untreated sewage into the Yamuna River from Vrindavan and Kosi towns in Uttar Pradesh. ​

A Bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, and comprising Expert Members Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, was hearing an execution application filed by Vijay Kishor Goswami, through advocate Akash Vashishtha, seeking enforcement of the green tribunal’s order dated December 17, 2021, passed in a case concerning pollution of the Yamuna. ​

The applicant has contended that, despite a considerable lapse of time, the NGT’s directions to curb pollution and improve sewage treatment infrastructure have not been complied with. ​

Taking cognisance of the grievance, the green tribunal issued notice to the respondents and directed the applicant to serve copies of the plea and file an affidavit of service at least one week before the next hearing. ​

The matter has been listed for further consideration on August 4. ​

The applicant had earlier raised grievances about untreated sewage and wastewater from Vrindavan and Kosi towns being discharged into the Yamuna and the Kosi drain near Sunrakh, highlighting deficiencies in sewage treatment infrastructure. ​

The NGT had, in its earlier proceedings, appointed a monitoring committee headed by a former Allahabad High Court judge, which found that water quality downstream of the Yamuna in the Mathura-Vrindavan stretch was significantly worse than upstream due to the discharge of untreated effluents. ​

“The quality of water downstream is poorer than that of upstream, indicating clearly that the drains falling in River Yamuna in this span are the cause of the deterioration in water quality,” the committee had noted. ​

It had also flagged inefficiency in bio-remediation processes, erratic sewage flows, and the need for adequate funding, stricter monitoring, and plantation drives to prevent re-encroachment on cleared land. ​

Taking note of the findings, the NGT had earlier observed that “pollution is continuing and steps taken are inadequate to remedy the situation,” and had directed authorities to implement the committee’s recommendations, ensure proper functioning of sewage treatment plants, and prevent further discharge of untreated effluents.

–IANS

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