Sewage flows into storm drain, UPPCB wants ₹2.4cr fine on civic body

Ghaziabad: The pollution control board has recommended to NGT a fine of Rs 2.4 crore on the Dasna nagar panchayat for dumping wastewater into a stormwater drain that empties into the Hindon. The fine was calculated at the rate of Rs 5 lakh a month for a period of 49 months.The imposition of the cost came during the hearing of a petition filed by a Dasna resident in 2022 alleging that a pond, spread over 6.75 hectares opposite Siddha Peeth Devi temple in the village, was getting polluted as the nagar panchayat was dumping garbage in a drain that emptied into the water body.The petitioner claimed that it posed a health hazard to residents living near the pond and was also damaging the abutting agricultural fields.“The NGT, in the subsequent hearings, had sought reports and ordered site inspections. In an order, dated July 4 this year, the tribunal sought to know from the pollution control board ‘why no punitive, preventive and remedial action has been taken by UPPCB when admittedly there is a violation of environmental norms by the local body,” UPPCB regional officer Vikas Mishra said.Rohit Kumar, the executive officer of Dasna Nagar Panchayat, meanwhile, said that over the last four years, the nagar panchayat had complied with the NGT’s directive and diverted the drain to the Dasna stormwater sewer.“Under Amrit Sarovar 2.0, we had sought Rs 1.99 crore for the construction of a drain, wire fencing, pathways and installation of a 100 KLD capacity sewage treatment plant. Untreated water no longer flows into the stormwater drain. Wire fencing and pathways work have been done along the pond too,” he said.The tribunal, however, observed that steps taken by the local body were “illegal” and violated Section 24(1) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which prohibits the discharge of drains into a stormwater sewer.UPPCB has now referred to a 2019 NGT order, where the green panel stated that states/UTs will be liable to pay compensation at the rate of Rs 5 lakh per drain per month, for computing the environmental compensation.“Based on this formula, the UPPCB has issued a show cause notice to Dasna Nagar Panchayat to explain why it should not be imposed with Rs 2.4 crore in environmental compensation for polluting the stormwater drain between July 1, 2020, and July 15, 2024,” Mishra said.The pollution control board has also filed a complaint against the local body under Section 43 of the water Act 1974 in the court of special judicial magistrate (pollution), which is due to hear the case on Sept 10.