UPPCB fines NMRC for violating pollution control norms

NOIDA: The Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration sent 31 notices to 10 institutions including the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), the Noida authority, the Greater Noida authority as well as their contractors, for violating pollution control norms.

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) officials said that the penalties were imposed after scrutiny by the district administration.

As per the administration, 15 notices were issued against the government and private institutions asking them to pay a penalty of Rs 50,000 for each notice. 16 notices were issued against three contractors working underthe government authorities.

The administration officials said that the violators need to respond on the charges within a week. If they fail to do so, the prosecution proceedings will be initiated against them.

Shailendra Mishra, City magistrate said, “The administration is serious about curbing pollution in the district. Following the Supreme Court order of November 26, we are going to start prosecution of all private and government body found violating pollution norms. Enough warnings have already been given.”

Officials said that the NMRC is penalised for pollution around the areas such as sectors 143, 144 and 145, where Metro construction work is in process. Several plot owners in the industrial areas and UPSIDC site-4 of Surajpur were sent notices. Additionally, 16 notices were sent to contractors working under the Noida authority and whose vehicles were found carrying uncovered waste and construction materials to and from the sites.

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) is penalised for not implementing pollution control measures at several locations along the 130-metre-wide road, especially near Haibatpur village. UPPCB officials said that they warned the authority about the violations quite a few times but they have failed to take action. The UPPCB official said, “We repeatedly receive complaints from residents about dust being emanated from the 130-metre-wide road. We have sent these complaints to the Greater Noida authority and asked for regular water sprinkling. However, sufficient steps are not taken to control dust on this road. Several patches are also broken and need urgent black top work or they continue to gather dust.”