NGT asks Ministry of Environment and Forests: What steps have you taken against illegal industries in Jasodharpur?

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to inform it on the steps it has taken against industries operating without environment clearance in Jasodharpur Industrial Area in Uttarakhand's Kotdwar area.

A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore also directed the Wildlife Institute of India to conduct a study in the area about ill effects of these industrial units and submit a report by May 30.

"We direct the Environment Ministry to file an additional affidavit of the officer concerned, as to what steps have been taken with regard to action against such industries for operating without EC or whether any application for environment clearance of industries concerned is pending before them," the bench said.

During the hearing, advocate Sanjay Upadhyay, appearing for the petitioner Shiv Prasad, told the green panel that many industries were operating without obtaining environment clearance and other requisite permissions.

The matter is posted for next hearing on July 4.

The petition had alleged that several industries are operating illegally, without consent from the state pollution control board or an environmental clearance in JIA near Kotdwar.

It had said that these industries are also major source of air pollution in the area and are a public health hazard.

Prasad had alleged that the units have also been flouting industrial pollutant discharge norms by dumping foundry slag on the banks of the Sigaddi Srot river.