NGT Directs CPCB, State Pollution Boards To Ensure Installation Of Effluent Monitoring Systems In 1700 Polluting Industries

The National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s principal bench has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, and the Pollution Control Committee (PCC) of Delhi to take prompt and coordinated action against Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) that have failed to install Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS), as mandated by law.

Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Afroz Ahmed said, "we are of the view that CPCB and concerned PCBs/ PCCs are required to take prompt action to ensure that GPIs which are required to have OCEMS do not commit the default and install the same without any delay. Hence, we dispose of the OA directing the Chairman, CPCB to duly consider the representation of the applicant dated 08.03.2025 and issue necessary direction to PCBs/PCC of UP, Haryana, Bihar and Delhi ensuring installation of OCEMS in the above GPIs and to monitor the same."

It further directed the Member Secretaries of PCBs of UP, Haryana and Bihar and PCC of Delhi will submit the compliance report to the CPCB within two months from today and the CPCB will thereafter ensure that appropriate remedial and punitive action is taken against the defaulting units within one month thereafter.

The Tribunal was hearing an Original Application (OA) alleging that nearly 1,700 GPIs in the aforesaid States and Union Territory are discharging untreated or partially treated effluents into critical water bodies — including the Ganga and Yamuna rivers — in the absence of OCEMS, resulting in severe environmental degradation.

The applicant relied on an RTI reply dated 03.07.2024 issued by the CPCB, which stated that all GPIs discharging more than 10 kilolitres per day (KLD) of effluents are required to install OCEMS to continuously monitor parameters such as pH, flow, BOD, COD, and TSS, while smaller units (below 10 KLD) must install flow meters and web cameras at discharge points.

The applicant further drew attention to a CPCB communication dated 02.09.2024 to various State authorities enclosing a list of 149 defaulting GPIs, and noted that according to CPCB data, 704 such units exist in Uttar Pradesh, 812 in Haryana, 21 in Bihar, and 149 in Delhi that have failed to comply.

Despite repeated directions and a representation dated 08.03.2025 to the CPCB Chairman, the applicant alleged that no effective remedial action had been taken by either CPCB or the respective SPCBs/PCCs.

While disposing of the plea, the Tribunal directed that the "Compliance report will be submitted by the CPCB immediately after three months to the Registrar General of the Tribunal by email at judicial-ngt@gov.in. If it is found necessary, the matter will be listed for consideration before the Bench again."

 Md. Imran Ahmad, Applicant in Person

Title: MD Imran Ahmad v. Central Pollution Control Board & Ors.

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