NGT orders probe into water pollution in Sukinda Valley

Cuttack: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered further investigation by the Central Ground Water Board into the contamination of groundwater detected in different regions of Sukinda valley and submission of an action taken report by the joint inspection committee within four weeks.
The NGT, east zone bench in Kolkata has directed the state govt to provide safe potable drinking water to people of these areas in Jajpur district’s Sukinda valley.
The order was issued after taking on record the affidavit filed by member secretary, Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Kailasam Murugesan, along with the report of the joint inspection committee.
Earlier, the tribunal ordered an inquiry on a complaint letter submitted by Mantu Das, a resident of Jajpur Sadar.
The bench of B Amit Sthalekar (judicial member) and Arun Kumar Verma (expert member) said it is evident in the report that there is a clear finding of chromium (VI) contamination at nine sampling points.
The report also gives the suggestion that the extent of contamination of groundwater in the different regions of Sukinda Valley and surrounding area is a matter of further investigation by the competent agency.
“We wonder whether the Central Ground Water Board, which was a member of the joint committee, does not consider itself a competent agency to investigate. The Central Ground Water Board should have further investigated the matter on its own. The report has also not given any remedial suggestion,” the bench observed in its July 4 order.
The bench also observed, “In the face of specific findings of the joint inspection committee, we are of the view that the responsibility falls upon the state government to provide potable drinking water to residents of different regions of Sukinda Valley and the surrounding area free from chromium (VI) pollution or pollution from any other hazardous mineral.”
“While directing for listing of the matter on August 16, the Bench granted four weeks’ time to the state government and Central Ground Water Board to file an affidavit showing what action has been taken on the report of the joint inspection committee,” said petitioner counsel Sankar Prasad Pani.