Meerut: Upset by the non-compliance of its repeated orders regarding pollution in western UP rivers, NGT has directed the state government to pay Rs 5 crore as ‘performance guarantee’ “which shall be forfeited in case the state failed to implement the action plan for river rejuvenation”.NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that “there is a serious failure by the UP government in non-compliance of its earlier order”.In its earlier order, the NGT had directed the UP government to provide potable drinking water in villages where handpumps were extracting highly contaminated water.The case was filed by Doaba Paryavaran Samiti (DPS) highlighting the pathetic lives of thousands of villagers residing on the banks of contaminated rivers such as Krishni and Hindon in Baghpat and river Kali in Meerut. According to DPS lawyer, Gaurav Bansal, NGT has given six months to implement the order or else, the amount will be forfeited.Welcoming the decision, president of DPS, Chandraveer Singh said, “It is indeed a positive development. For over two years despite repeated NGT directions, the state government was lackadaisical in its attitude. Situation in the affected villages is really poor. For instance, more than 70 people have died of cancer in the last three years in Baghpat’s Gangnauli village, while a large number of villagers, particularly children, are suffering from mental incompetence, bone deformities and cancer.”On November 5, 2015, NGT had directed the UP government to permanently seal all the handpumps which were spewing toxic water. And it has ever since been issuing fresh orders with an aim to improve the lives of villagers.

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