NGT orders expert panel to examine pollution from Satna shaw mills
National Green Tribunal
(NGT) asked for the constitution of an expert committee to examine the issues raised in a petition seeking the intervention of the green tribunal to check pollution and damage to the environment caused by shaw mills and factories producing wooden goods in Satna district and nearby areas.
Hearing the petition filed by Mahendra Pratap Singh from Satna, the NGT judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Agroz Ahmed also issued notices to the state govt, forest department, MP Pollution Control Board, and district collector, Satna, seeking a response. The expert committee was asked to submit a report to the tribunal before the next hearing of the case on July 21.
Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Amit Singh Sengar and Deepankar Singh said most of the shaw mills and factories are illegally operated.
They are polluting water in the ponds and other water bodies with the hazardous chemicals put on the wooden logs. Besides, shaw mills create noise and emit smoke, which is damaging the atmosphere.
They contended that no shaw mill or plywood factories operating without a licence should be immediately closed. They further argued that in the year 2010, the district collector, Satna, issued a circular banning the opening of a shaw mill or stone crusher unit within a 5 km radius of the urban area or a residential area.
Following the initial hearing, the NGT ordered the constitution of an expert committee to examine the issue and issued notices to the respondents.
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