In a partial relief to the companies involved in the trade of mineral water, National Green Tribunal (NGT) has allowed two companies to operate their packaging units in Noida and Greater Noida. In the first week of March, the NGT had banned all 34 companies in Noida for extracting water out of which 20 were running in Noida while remaining were running in Greater Noida. The next date of hearing is August 22.
A bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and P Jyothimani, in its order, said that 34 companies have failed to respond to the NGT order regarding illegal extraction of ground water without any permit from Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and UP Pollution Control Board and were running only on certificates given by Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) which is insufficient for such kind of trade in the region. Two companies namely Khetan Beverages and ATS Beverages, located at Greater Noida city, were found running with proper authorisation.
It may be recalled that on March 2, The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered shutting down of 34 packaged drinking water units in Noida and Greater Noida for “exploiting” underground water and operating without permission of any of the competent authorities.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar gave the direction after the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority in its affidavit informed the tribunal that these units did not have the consent of Noida and Greater Noida, Central Ground Water Board, UP Pollution Control Board or any other competent authority.