NGT asks UPPCB to rework spending of environment restoration fund

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has been directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to rework its environment restoration fund within two months. 

A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson, NGT, said that the environment restoration fund should be spent as per plan to be approved by the National Campa Advisory Council (NCAC) and not for government functions. The fund should be spent on strengthening the vigilance mechanism, setting up laboratories, monitoring the environment, hiring experts and consultants, undertaking remediation and study of contaminated sites. 

The bench further said, “We direct UPPCB to revisit its plan. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) may oversee preparation of such action plans. The chairman and member secretary may have a meeting with the chairman and member secretary of the state PCB within one month. Plan may be finalised, with the approval of the CPCB, within two months.”