Pune: NGT Directs MPCB To Assess Fine Against Dehu Nagar Panchayat Over Indrayani River Pollution
Pune: NGT Directs MPCB To Assess Fine Against Dehu Nagar Panchayat Over Indrayani River Pollution
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to assess the fine to be levied against Dehu Nagar panchayat for polluting the Indrayani river, resulting in repeated instances of fish deaths. The NGT’s Pune bench has given the MPCB two weeks to file an affidavit explaining the quantum of environmental damage compensation to be levied on the panchayat and for what period.
The MPCB had earlier stated that officials from the board and Dehu Nagar Panchayat visited the site on March 14 and found that fish deaths occurred due to contaminated water with sewage. The board also mentioned that there are two major nullahs that need to be treated before entering the Indrayani river. Despite issuing multiple notices to the panchayat, the NGT bench expressed dissatisfaction with the MPCB’s reply, stating that it did not mention the progress made by the panchayat in submitting an action plan.
The Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) attributed the mass fish mortality to low levels of dissolved oxygen, untreated sewage, and elevated levels of ammonia and nitrite. The institute also stated that sudden fluctuations in water temperature and algal blooms contributed to the fish deaths. The NGT bench has directed the MPCB to specify whether any prosecution has been initiated against Dehu Nagar panchayat for not taking steps to mitigate the problem.
The NGT’s directive comes after its principal bench in New Delhi took cognizance of a media group report on the mass fish deaths in the Indrayani river at Dehu. The tribunal has sought a detailed report from the MPCB, including the amount of environmental damage compensation to be levied on Dehu Nagar panchayat.
