Prevent Muck From Reaching River In Uttarakhand:NGT To NTPC and TDCL [Read Order]

The National Green Tribunal had directed National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and Tehri Development Corporation Limited to take necessary steps in the matter forthwith, for preventing muck reaching the river system, at village Tapovan, District Chamoli, State of Uttarakhand.

A bench led by Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel gave the direction while hearing a petition filed by Gram Pradhan & Residents of Tapoban. The complaint is about loss to inhabitants in the course of the construction of barrage by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) in the year 2005 for which land of the people was taken for the Vaishnugad project.

The tribunal had called for a report from the Uttarakhand State Pollution Control Board, which in it's report gave details of the muck disposal sites. The bench said, "The photographs annexed to the report show clear possibility of the muck reaching the river system which needs to be prevented by way of adequate protective measures."

The bench also suggested that authorities consider steps identified by an Expert Committee comprising Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun and the SPCB.

The bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 20.  

Click here to download the Order