GUWAHATI: Assam has been issued a notice by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the issue of toxic elements like arsenic and fluoride contaminated groundwater amongst 24 states and 4 Union Territories (U.Ts) of India, as per reports on December 28.
The principal bench, headed by Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr A. Senthil Vel, issued notices to 24 States, 4 Union Territories, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the CGWA's inaction, the NGT criticised the authority for failing to address the serious health impacts of toxic chemicals in groundwater. Despite acknowledging the presence of arsenic and fluoride causing adverse effects on human health, the CGWA allegedly shirked its statutory responsibility. The NGT referenced previous legal judgments, including the Supreme Court's decision in MC Mehta vs. UOI and the NGT's ruling in Shailesh Singh vs. Hotel Holiday Regency, to emphasise the inadequacy of CGWA's arguments.
The NGT initiated suo moto proceedings based on a newspaper report highlighting the widespread contamination, stating "Arsenic found in groundwater in 25 States, fluoride in 27 States: Govt."
Concerned about the gravity of the issue, the bench had sought a report from CGWA, revealing the presence of arsenic and fluoride in numerous districts across 25 and 27 states, respectively. The report also acknowledged the severe toxic effects of these chemicals on the human body, leading to health hazards.
The states that received notices include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. Notices have also been sent to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, and Puducherry.
Terming the situation as "very serious," the NGT stressed the need for urgent preventive and protective measures by all concerned authorities. In response, the court issued notices to the implicated respondents, directing them to submit their responses within one month. The matter is scheduled for further consideration on February 15, 2024.
(With inputs from Live Law)