NGT wants CCTV cameras along Ulhas river to spot effluent-laden trucks

The tribunal, comprising Justice V R Kingaonkar and expert member Ajay Deshpande, was hearing an application by NGO Vanashakti which alleged that industries were severely polluting the Ulhas river and sought for clean-up of the river.

Further, the tribunal has asked the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and police department to co-ordinate and ensure that tankers transporting effluents outside the industrial units should have their licences seized and their permits temporarily cancelled.

The NGO’s counsel Gayatri Singh alleged that industrial effluent is still discharged untreated through Effluent Treatment Plant.

Consequently, the MPCB has been asked to respond to this and give the ETP’s performance over the last two years.

The industrial units were also ordered to ensure that products are transported in the authorized vehicles of which details be provided to the RTOs.

“We hope that such arrangements may discourage transportation of illegal effluents outside the industrial areas for the purpose of discharge in the river and there will be proper filtration, so as to discourage activity of transportation of industrial effluents, which will cause pollution to the river water or which contaminated water bodies,” the bench said.

More than 400 residents had fallen sick after noxious fumes spread from a drain in Ambernath where tankers had allegedly emptied untreated chemical on November 30.