Jodhpur / Pollution had to spread heavily, Ricoh fined four crores for polluting three rivers

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 2 crore each on Ricoh, Jodhpur and Barmer for illegally discharging polluted water from industries in Jojri, Luni and Bandi rivers. The NGT has given this decision on a petition filed by Gram Panchayat Araba.

A bench headed by NGT Justice Adarsh ​​Goel has directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Prevention Board to monitor that water from any type of treatment plant is not released into the river without treatment. The order said that if water is discharged from any sewage treatment plant, effluent treatment plant and common effluent treatment plant without being treated completely, it should be sealed. The NGT was informed by the Gram Panchayat Araba that 300 million liters of chemical-laden water is released into these rivers every day.

It was said that Jodhpur is a regional industrial hub. A large number of textile dyeing and printing work is done here. There are also a large number of steel re-rolling mills. Chemical-rich water comes out from them. There is no proper facility to treat this water. In such a situation, it is shed in the Jojri river.

Instructions for imposing heavy fines for violation of rules

In its order, the NGT ordered the district collectors of Jodhpur and Barmer to conduct a survey and prepare a report that how much chemical-rich water is being released from which industries. For this, a team of Pollution Board and Central Ground Water Board should keep a constant watch on it. Heavy fine should be imposed on the industry violating the rules. Despite this, if the rules are not followed, strict action should be taken against them.

Instructions to close the factory for those who do not follow the rules

Jaideep Singh, who filed the petition, told that the officials know who is spreading how much pollution. Now that the NGT has clearly said in its order that heavy fines should be imposed on the polluting industry and even then they should be closed.

He said that it has been clearly stated in the order that the fine amount to be recovered should be spent in the area affected by this water. So that to some extent people can be compensated for the loss. Also the environment can be improved. Now for the next six months, a report will have to be presented in the NGT regarding the action to be taken on this decision.

Farm barren with toxic water

The chemical-rich water coming out of Jodhpur's industries is released into the Jojri river. This water spreads to the fields near the Araba. Due to this the land of people's fields has become completely barren. At the same time, groundwater has also become polluted. The polluted water from dyeing-printing units in Balotra and Pali towns of Barmer district is discharged into Luni and Bandi rivers.