Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: The National Green Tribunal ordered the immediate closure of a brick manufacturing unit and a stone crusher in Assam’s Nalbari district. The NGT Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata issued the mandate. Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Expert Member Ishwar Singh signed the order. The units must stay closed until they obtain mandatory statutory approvals and meet environmental regulations.
The JPIS Brick Manufacturing Unit and PASA Stone Crusher Unit at Chengnoi cannot start work. They need a valid Consent to Operate from the Assam State Pollution Control Board. They must also follow guidelines from the Central Pollution Control Board. The state board already revoked the Consent to Establish for the JPIS brick unit.
Complainants flagged the units for sitting near the Pagladiya riverbed. They fear damage to the ecosystem, local biodiversity, and public health. Some locals even warned about threats to elephant movement. The tribunal stated: "The NGT further observed that the Consent to Establish previously issued to the JPIS Brick Manufacturing Unit had already been revoked by the state pollution control board."
The Nalbari District Magistrate must investigate the claims regarding the elephant corridor. The Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police will enforce the closure. The state pollution board must verify all site criteria before granting any future permits. The units remain shut until they satisfy every legal and environmental requirement.
Comments