NEW DELHI: The NGT has ordered "intensive survey" of the Kali, Krishna and the Hindon rivers in western Uttar Pradesh and directed the inspection of 316 industries which are allegedly polluting the water bodies.The order comes after a plea filed by an NGO alleged that 50 villagers have died of cancer in western UP.A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi constituted a committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), state pollution control board, UP Jal Nigam to jointly inspect and carry out survey of the rivers and groundwater in six districts in the western part of the state. "They shall collect samples, cause analysis to be made of such samples at the Central Pollution Control Board Laboratory," the bench said in its order. "The CPCB shall be the convener of the team. In case of any difficulty, necessary police protection shall be given to the joint inspection team and its members for the purposes of execution of this order," the order stated.Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for the petitioner, contended that the people were suffering due to the failure of the authorities.The matter will be now heard on March 19. The bench had earlier observed that it was the fundamental duty of the state government to look after the health and the environment of the villagers.Earlier, the UP Jal Nigam had faced the NGT's ire for its failure to comply with a 2015 order directing it to seal all hand pumps which were releasing contaminated groundwater in six districts of the western part of the state.It had earlier directed the state government and its officials to provide potable drinking water to the villagers of the six districts through GPS installed vehicles.

Source: Economic Times January 21, 2018 10:52 UTC