NGT focus on Howrah eateries polluting river

Kolkata: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took serious note of the deplorable state of effluent and untreated sewage being discharged into the Hooghly from eateries along the riverfront on the west bank, adjacent to Howrah station, and demanded a counter-affidavit from all relevant departments to explain why its previous orders have not been adhered to.The attention of the NGT bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Verma (expert member) was drawn to this issue by environment activist Subhas Datta, who sought immediate measures to cease pollution of the Hooghly due to the release of untreated sewage from hotels and eateries on the bank. The applicant further requested removal of encroachments from the riverbanks and the connection of all drainage systems from these establishments to the nearest Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) near the station.The central allegation in the application is that the hotels and eateries in the vicinity are functioning without the necessary Consent to Operate (CO) from the state pollution control board, and are discharging both liquid and solid waste directly into the river. It was also alleged that septic tanks in the backyard of the Railway Mail Service have direct outlets into the Hooghly, contributing to contamination. The Hooghly Nadi Jalapath Paribahan Samabay Samity, managed by the state, has also been accused of constructing toilets on the bank with waste flowing into the river. Substantial structural waste has also been dumped on the riverbanks by this entity. It was also claimed that the state PCB had ordered New Tara Maa Hindu Hotel to be closed by December 31, 2022. However, an inspection on August 9, 2023 revealed that the hotel was still in operation.