New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought response from various authorities, including the district magistrate, in the matter of supply of contaminated water to a housing society in Greater Noida. The NGT had taken suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report according to which water containing E-coli bacteria and bleaching powder was supplied to Supertech Ecovillage-II in Greater Noida (West) recently. More than 300 people, including 170 children of the society, fell ill after drinking contaminated water.

Violation of Environmental Protection Act

In its order issued on October 1, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said that the news item raises important issues relating to compliance with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment Protection Act. The bench also comprised judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmed.

The bench has impleaded the member secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), the chairman of Greater Noida Authority and the district magistrate as parties. The tribunal said that notice be issued to the above respondents to file their reply in the form of an affidavit at least one week before the next hearing date (January 28).