NGT took action in response to concerns about arsenic and fluoride intrusion in groundwater, both of which pose major health threats to the population...
Digital Desk: The National Green Tribunal's (NGT) major step for solving the severe issue of groundwater contamination, issues orders to 24 states and four Union Territories on December 27th, 2023.
However, the NGT took action in response to concerns about arsenic and fluoride intrusion in groundwater, both of which pose major health threats to the population.
The NGT's bench, comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, highlighted the severity of the situation, calling it "very serious" and requiring "urgent preventive and protective steps."
The NGT had taken suo motu cognizance based on media reports indicating the presence of these pollutants over allowable levels in various places.
It is to be mentioned that Arsenic was detected in 230 districts across 25 states, whereas fluoride was found in 469 districts across 27 states.
The states that received notices include Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, among others, as well as Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, and Puducherry.
The further proceedings will take place on February 15th, with NGT seeking responses from notified states and Union Territories within a month.
