The National Green Tribunal has formed a committee with representatives of the central and state governments to inquire into allegations of violation of environment norms along both banks of the Hooghly and file a report within two months.
The order, by the eastern zonal bench of the tribunal, could be accessed on Wednesday.
The order was passed based on a public interest petition filed by environment activist Subhas Datta, who alleged a series of violations along both banks of the river — more so on the Howrah side — based on a recent survey.
The Telegraph has reported the violations spotted during the survey.
The bench of Justice B. Amit Sthalekar and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati listed four major violations — discharge of polluted water by a laundry at Topiwala Ghat, near Shibpur, into the river; dumping of garbage on a number of ghats; discharge of wastewater into the water by small-scale units in Shibpur; erection of concrete pillars in the river obstructing the water flow.
“Considering the allegations, we deem it appropriate to constitute a committee (that) shall visit the site in question... (and) submit its report within two months.”
The panel will include a scientist each from the state and central pollution control boards and the National Mission for Clean Ganga Authority, and officials of the state urban development department and the civic bodies of Howrah and Kolkata.
