SPCBs told to file exhaustive reply on pollution by industry in Markandey

Terming the reply filed by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and firm operating a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) materially deficient as it lacks relevant information on pollution in Markandey river in Kala Amb, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state pollution control boards of Himachal and Haryana and District Magistrate, Sirmaur, to file exhaustive reply on the pollution caused by the industrial effluent in the river.

The orders were pronounced by the tribunal’s principal bench on October 15 while acting on a petition filed in 2022 by one Dharamvir, a Naraingarh resident who alleged that industries were discharging their effluents into the river, thus polluting it and causing cattle disease in its vicinity. A joint committee was thereafter constituted by the tribunal which identified nine polluting industries which dumped hazardous waste into the river, thus polluting it.

Taking stern note of the deteriorating pollution level in river Markandey in Kala Amb, the state had directed the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) of Himachal to submit list of defaulting industries who do not send their effluent to the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) at Kala Amb in Sirmaur district.

The SPCB has also been asked to file complete information like total drains falling in the said river, whether these drains have been tapped or not, whether untreated sewage is being let out in the river, total number of industries in Kala Amb, those not connected to the CETP, those having zero liquid discharge facility, besides sampling results of discharge points of confluence of sewage and effluents in the river and Jatton Wala Nallah.

Taking stern view of the pollution related issues emanating in Markandey river and Jatton Wala Nallah, the tribunal has sought complete sampling details of industrial effluents from discharge points while listing the case for January 21, 2026. The tribunal has also sought a remedial plan from the boards of both states while also asking them to explain the cause behind violation of laid parameters of industrial effluents.

While the District Magistrate noted that there was no encroachment in the river area at Peepalwala village, at all other places the river is flowing through land owned by private persons noted the tehsildar in his report. Following this the tribunal directed the DM to provide revenue details of land and its nature of use through which the river flows.