The special bench of the National Green Tribunal has passed a series of directives on H.K. Dwivedi, the chief secretary of the West Bengal government, on minimising pollution in the Kestopur and Bagjola canals.
The bench has observed that “there is practically no improvement” despite several orders in this regard.
The bench, chaired by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, directed the chief secretary to “review the existing monitoring mechanism, including setting up of CCTV cameras..., constitution of a special task force with specified responsibilities... and periodical review at appropriate higher level...”.
The order that passed on May 23 could be accessed on Thursday.
The proceedings in this matter were initiated in July 2016 suo moto by the NGT when its Kolkata bench came to know about the pollution in Kestopur and Bagjola canals.
The May 23 order was passed based on the complaints made by environmentalist Subhas Datta on the government’s failure to implement the bench’s earlier directives. “None have been fully complied so far,” said Datta.
The bench disposed of the case but directed the government to file an action taken report before the eastern zonal bench by November 15.
