CPCB told to frame norms for regulating piggery units

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to frame guidelines for regulating piggery units by June.

Last year, activist Gauri Maulekhi submitted an application before the CPCB to frame guidelines on the disposal of waste emanating from piggery units. She had appealed to the NGT to direct the authorities to come up with norms in this regard.

Maulekhi raised the concern over pollution caused by the piggery units in the absence of environmental guidelines regulating it. She mentioned that piggeries were placed in the “Green” category by the CPCB, without assessing the quantum of wastewater and other waste generated by it.

In her application to the NGT, Maulekhi claimed to have visited 167 piggeries across India and alleged that 580 lakh kg of dung and 2,266 lakh litres of wastewater was being collectively discharged from these units, which pollute soil and water.