JODHPUR: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken a serious note of the absence of any serious study or action by the state government on health issues of the villagers, scarcity of drinking water supply and damages to the agriculture because of use of contaminated water in river Bandi released by the textile industries in Pali district . Now, the NGT has directed the state government to carry out a detailed assessment of loss of the agriculture and submit a detailed report on the status of the health of the villagers in a month.Report has also been sought on the status of groundwater reserves and quality in the catchment of river Bandi. The report should clearly highlight status of groundwater contamination in context of industrial and sewage discharge in the open. Report should also be filed in context of providing potable water to the affected villagers, including setting up of water purification/treatment plants through Polluters. Action taken report to this effect should be filed within one month.The NGT gave these directions in pursuance of a report of a team of eminent scientists constituted by the NGT to have an updated report of the status and compliance as well as the action to be taken in respect of the effluents generated and discharged by textile and dying industries at Pali.The NGT also directed the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to file status of ground water scenario in Pali district indicating; (a) pendency of applications for grant of permissions received from industries (b) groundwater level and its quality in the Pali district.The NGT expressed displeasure with the RIICO and State Pollution Control Board concluding that the state government and its agencies failed to execute their functions properly.“RIICO is not maintaining the industrial area and the drains meant for carrying storm water, are chocked and not cleaned up regularly. The State Pollution Control Board has not properly regulated the consent mechanism and has also failed in ensuring compliance of installed CETPs and particularly that no waste water is to be discharged in river Bandi”, observed the NGT.Also barring the transportation and unloading of the industrial effluent by the tankers in the Bandi river, the NGT has directed the divisional commissioner of Jodhpur to prepare a plan for dredging of river Bandi and also canalising it at appropriate locations within one month.

Stay updated with all the Latest Jodhpur headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.