Seal hand pumps releasing impure water, orders #NGT

NOIDA: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed the UP Jal Nigam to seal all hand pumps releasing contaminated groundwater in Ghaziabad and five other districts of western Uttar Pradesh, saying that it was the state government’s fundamental duty to look after the health of residents.

“We direct the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam to forthwith seal the hand pumps of all western UP districts which are releasing contaminated ground water,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar said.

The NGT was hearing a petition filed by C V Singh, a retired scientist from the Haryana pollution control board. The petition said the consumption of contaminated water has caused the death of more than 50 villagers in Ghaziabad, in the past one year because of cancer.

The green court has constituted a committee comprising officers of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, to inspect, analyse and submit a report with relevant data on the extent of groundwater contamination in Ghaziabad, Shamli, Saharanpur, Meerut, Baghpat and Muzaffarnagar.

The NGT also directed the state government, its various authorities and district magistrates to provide potable water to the villagers in these districts. It also directed the district magistrates, subdivisional magistrates and the CEO of UP Jal Nigam to maintain “due record” of the potable water that shall be provided to these villages.

Officials have been told that the vehicles providing potable water must have GPS systems installed in them so that one can track their route from the water source to the distribution point. The NGT has also directed the appointed committee to find out a solution to stop groundwater contamination and to preserve the level in these areas. The report has to be submitted within three months. The next date of hearing is January 12, 2016.