Dyers move NGT against ministry order

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 19

The Punjab Dyers’ Association here has once again moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the orders of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest that says canal in which all water will be discharged will be made by the dyers’ associations and the entire expenses will be incurred by it.

Talking to The Tribune, Bobby Jindal, general secretary of the association, said in 2012, the SAD-BJP government had decided to come up with a canal in Moga in which all water of STPs and CETPs will be discharged and there will be no direct discharge in the Buddha Nullah. But that time, the dyeing units were told to come up with their own CETPs.

“We started with CETPs on Tajpur Road, Focal Point, etc, and a good amount of money is spent on their construction. But then the Ministry of Environment writes another letter that says subsidies will be given only when a canal is constructed by the dyeing associations. This was a shock to all of us. This was the idea of the state government and it had to build the canal, not the dyeing associations. Recently, the PPCB called us and conveyed about us the Ministry of Environment’s letter. The board officials said the subsidy amount would be released if a canal was constructed by them. Do you think for getting a subsidy of few crore of rupees, we will shell out about Rs 200 crore to construct a canal?” asked Jindal.

The chairman of the association, Pawan Kumar, said we moved the NGT against the order. “It will intervene or at least listen to our grievance. The Government- both Punjab and the Centre should be practical. How can a few dyeing associations will be able to construct a canal in Moga in which water effluents will be discharged from both CETPs and STPs?” asked Pawan Kumar.