NGT fines Delhi authorities for taking no action against illegal dairies

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped a fine of ₹10 lakh each on the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the three municipal corporations over no action taken against illegal dairies and its waste management in Delhi.

A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT Chairperson directed the DPCC and the civic bodies to deposit the interim compensation with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within one month.

The bench said, “Neither polluting activities are being prevented nor prosecution initiated, nor assessment and collection of compensation for restoration of the environment is being done.”

Moreover, the Animal Husbandry Department had failed to check overcrowding of animals. “The department has merely collected data of number of animals and number of diseased animals. No carrying capacity has been assessed or enforced to check overcrowding,” NGT said.

The Chief Secretary of Delhi has been asked to hold a meeting with the authorities concerned and furnish an action taken report by July 8.

The NGT took note of the report submitted by a joint panel comprising representatives of the CPCB and DPCC which established violation of norms and failure on the part of authorities to take due remedial action.

The directions came from the NGT came while hearing a plea moved by animal rights activist Nuggehalli Jayasimha who sought directions to penalise and shut down illegal dairy units in the national capital.