New Delhi, The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the state groundwater department to file a fresh compliance report regarding illegal vehicle washing centres in Noida and Greater Noida.
The green body is hearing a matter initiated suo motu based on a newspaper report which claimed that 1,000 illegal vehicle washing centres in Noida and Greater Noida were wasting around 30 crore litres of water every month.
In a recent order, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that the state's groundwater department had submitted a report that 193 washing centres had been identified in Gautam Buddha Nagar, of which 55 are in industrial areas and 138 in non-industrial areas.
It noted that the report detailed that among the 55 industrial units, only 14 have the requisite permissions, while 12 have applications pending.
Twenty-three units, however, were found to be operating without any permission or application, on whom the district groundwater management council had decided to impose a penalty of ₹2 lakh under the UP Groundwater Act, the bench noted.
Regarding the 138 units in non-industrial areas, the Tribunal said the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board counsel informed it that the electricity supply to 100 units has already been disconnected.
The Tribunal, however, sought a "complete report" in this regard from the UPPCB.
It also noted a discrepancy in the data provided by the authorities
"Counsel appearing for the UPPCB has pointed out that there is a mismatch of 11 washing units. He has three submitted that the total number of such units in Noida and Greater Noida is 204, whereas the information has been given only in respect of 193," the Tribunal said.
It directed the groundwater department and UPPCB "to file their compliance reports within four weeks."
The matter has been listed for further proceedings on October 12.
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