The eastern zonal bench of the National Green Tribunal has constituted a committee to probe the allegation by environmentalist Subhas Datta on rejuvenation of Tolly’s Nullah.
Specific orders were issued by the NGT 19 months back on September 21, 2020. Datta alleged that nothing has been done.
The proposed committee, made up of senior officials from the central pollution control board; Kolkata Municipal Corporation; Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, has been asked to examine the “allegations made in the original application and submit its report by the next date of listing giving its suggestions with regard to rejuvenation of the river and action taken in pursuance of the previous directions”.
The tribunal, made up of Justice B. Amit Sthalekar and expert member Saibal Dasgupta, outlined the unresolved matters based on Datta’s allegation that include detailed project report to construct sewage treatment plant not yet finalised, fencing of the river banks not done etc.
“The tribunal had …directed the respondents to file a report of compliance by 04.02.-2021… we find that no affidavit has been filed...,” pointed out the bench. The next hearing will be on July 21.