National Green Tribunal: In an original application on basis of the news item titled “Shahar ke nal ugal rahe matmaila paani, Ganda Paani peene ko majboor log, Bimariyo ko mil rahi dawat” in ‘Punjab Kesari’ on 12-04-2024, Prakash Shrivastava (Chairperson) and Dr. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member), said that it is a serious concern for the local residents and directed the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board to ascertain the cause of contamination of piped water and file a comprehensive report.
The news piece highlighted the supply of muddy water in Barnala, a city in Punjab. The news item stated that there was clear layer of mud on the utensils upon filling the tap water and that the people who are solely dependent upon the Government water supply were facing severe hardship and health hazards. The tap water has a foul smell and the doctor’s opinion was also included in the news piece stating that by drinking such dirty water there is possibility of bacterial and viral infections like cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, jaundice, etc. The news item also contained residents’ apprehension that there is sewer water mixing in the tap water supply.
The Tribunal said that the news piece raised substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms. The Punjab Pollution Control Board, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (‘Sewerage Board’), and the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate, Tarn Taran, were impleaded as respondent parties.
On advance notice, the Sewerage Board had stated that the water was supplied to the public after chlorination and that the underground water supply system comprises of AC pipes and MS pipelines which were laid about 70 years ago and these pipelines had outlived their lives which leads to rusty water reaching the public.
The Tribunal directed the Sewerage Board to ascertain the cause of contamination of piped water and file a comprehensive report along with water sample analysis report within four weeks. The matter was further listed for hearing on 09-08-2024.
[News item titled “Shahar ke nal ugal rahe matmaila paani Ganda Paani peene ko majboor log Bimariyo ko mil rahi dawat” appearing in Punjab Kesari dated 12-04-2024, Original Application No. 483/2024, Order Dated: 30-04-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the respondents: Advocate Ankit Midha and Advocate Ankit Siwach
