NGT allows tanneries in Kanpur to operate for a trial run

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal Tuesday allowed the closed down tanneries situated on the banks of river Ganga at Kanpur to operate on a trial basis for 19 days in June during which their effluent levels will be checked by a team of experts.

"Permission is granted to all the units to carry out operations at optimum level, as a trial run from June 7 to June 25. During this period, the joint inspection team will visit and collect samples of effluents discharged from these units," a bench headed by judicial member U D Salvi said.

The tribunal, while passing an order on a bunch of pleas, asked all the industrial units to furnish details of steps taken by them to curb pollution level to the joint inspection team, comprising experts from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Kanpur by June 6.

"The joint inspection team should visit the industrial units, collect the samples of effluents discharged and analyse the samples. It should also check whether electro magnetic flow meters are fixed in all these units to show their water consumption as well as discharge of effluents of these units," the bench said.

The green tribunal added that after the effluent samples are analysed by the joint inspection team, the reports should be placed before it and posted the matter for further hearing on July 25.

It, however, made it clear that the units which are closed and allowed to operate for the trial run period shall shut down after the period, while those units which are operational will continue running.

The panel directed the Uttar Pradesh government to restore the electricity supply to these units during the trial period for carrying out inspection.

The NGT, which had earlier termed the 700 tanneries in Kanpur situated on the river bank as one of the "highest sources of pollution," had also warned them of coercive action if they failed to comply with environmental laws.

On April 15, counsel for the UPPCB had submitted that the joint inspection team has conducted inspection of these units and analysis of effluents was being done by them.

The NGT had then observed that though some tanneries have consented to operate, but they were prohibited from operating their industries by its order.

It had directed the UPPCB to tell after inspection and analysis of effluents sample, whether consent to operate these units should be granted or not.

The tribunal had 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."

It had said that it was "unquestionable" that the 700 tanneries in Kanpur were one of the highest sources of pollution and that too, by serious pollutants which were injurious to human health, diversity and ecology of the river.