NGT Seeks Explanation From CPCB Over Delay In Chemical Use Report On Water Bodies
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Pune, February 9, 2026: The western zonal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a show-cause notice to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for failing to submit a mandated report on the use of the chemical Draynzyme for clearing water hyacinth and other natural water bodies.
The notice was issued during a hearing held on January 30, 2026. The matter arose from a media report published in February 2024, which stated that no official permission had been granted for the use of chemicals in cleaning natural water bodies.
A bench comprising judicial member Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Sujit Kumar Bajpayee observed that the NGT’s principal bench had disposed of the case on April 5, 2024, directing the CPCB to examine whether Draynzyme could be safely used on water hyacinth and in natural aquatic systems. The pollution watchdog was instructed to submit its findings to the registrar of the western zonal bench within four months.
However, a report submitted by the registry on January 30, 2026, indicated that the CPCB had not filed the required report within the stipulated timeframe. Taking note of this non-compliance, the tribunal ordered the issuance of a show-cause notice to the CPCB and directed that the proceedings be treated as an execution application to enforce the April 2024 order.
During the hearing, CPCB’s counsel, advocate Aniruddha Kulkarni, informed the bench that a status report had been emailed on January 29, 2026, which was subsequently taken on record. On examining the document, the tribunal noted that the CPCB had sought additional information from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to further assess the issue.
However, PMC’s counsel, Rahul Garg, submitted that the civic body was not in a position to provide the requested information, stating that such technical details could only be obtained from manufacturers or suppliers of the chemical. The tribunal directed the PMC to file an affidavit formally placing this submission on record and to share an advance copy with the CPCB.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) informed the tribunal that it did not intend to file any response at this stage.
The tribunal has scheduled the matter for further hearing on April 9, 2026.
The case relates to concerns over the environmental and health impacts of chemical agents used to remove water hyacinth. Earlier, the MPCB had flagged restrictions on the use of Glyphosate due to potential risks to human health and had communicated the same to the PMC in June 2023. The PMC had acknowledged conducting a limited trial of Draynzyme over a 40-square-foot stagnant water patch along the Ramnadi, while assuring the tribunal that no further application would take place without prior approval from the competent authority.
In its April 2024 order, the NGT had underlined that any decision on permitting Draynzyme must be based on a scientific assessment conducted by the CPCB in consultation with the Indian Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Lucknow, to ensure that its use does not harm aquatic ecosystems and complies with environmental laws.
