The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognizance of severe pollution plaguing Durgam Cheruvu, a lake in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The petition is registered suo-motu on the basis of a news item dated 30.09.2024.
As per the article, authorities from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) announced the closure following alarming water quality tests that revealed high levels of pollutants, particularly fecal colorm bacteria, which pose health risks to visitors.
The article highlights that the lake has been shut down due to the accumulation of sewage and waste, which has led to distressingly low dissolved oxygen levels and the death of fish.
It further alleges that the pollution is primarily caused by stormwater flowing through manholes from surrounding areas, mixing with sewage that spills into the lake. This has resulted in a cocktail of pollutants, including heavy metals, industrial waste and plastic waste.
The above news item indicated Bench violation of the Water (prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
i. Telangana Pollution Control Board, Through its Member Secretary.
ii. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Through its Member Secretary.
iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF), Telangana.
iv. District Magistrate, Hyderabad District.
The Bench issued notice to the Respondents.
Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai, therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Southern Zonal Bench for appropriate further action.Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Southern Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 03.12.2024.
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