NGT Asks Karnataka To Respond On Presence Levels Of Hazardous Heavy Metal And Toxic Material In River Arkavathy
Based on a frightening newspaper report in which it is said that high mercury concentration, banned pesticide DDT, cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAH, and fluoride are present in the waters of the river Arkavathy, a key tributary of Karnataka’s Kaveri river, the Central Pollution Control Board and the other authorities have been issued orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Arkavathy river originates near Nandi Hills, and supports large scale agriculture and horticulture in Karnataka. Long back Karnataka High Court issued directives for conservation of this river and still it remains that this river is suffering majorly with major domestic and industrial pollution say the report which has come to the notice of NGT.
Pollutants of Concern
The NGT bench, comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, on suo motu took note of the matter with the issue cropping up because of media exposure. The report brought out, inter alia, that three sites along the Arkavathy river have hazardous levels of polluters. The specific concentration level of concentration of DDT, mercury, and harmful hydrocarbons is more than the allowable limit; hence, the imperative upon NGT to adopt this as a subject.
DDT is a pesticide. Its use was strictly prohibited in India because this compound was highly toxic as well as ecologically persistent. And thus it mainly accumulates in the environment and caused a high risk to the health of humans as well as wild-life. Mercury is also another heavy metal very toxic to humans that affects the nervous system, whereas hydrocarbons, being an organic compound of hazardous effects, are linked to diseases like cancer and many others. Thus, these pollutants within the river pose threats not only to the water quality but also to the health and livelihoods of communities who rely on the river for agriculture and other domestic activities.
It also highlighted the risk of fluoride, which at high concentration causes dental and skeletal fluorosis-a disease that has an adverse effect on bones and teeth. The coexistence of all these pollutants raises a severe environmental and public health risk that requires urgent intervention.
Response by NGT and Legal Backdrop
The NGT bench noted that various provisions of environmental protection legislations like the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules and Environment (Protection) Act, had been violated in as much as the reported level of pollution in the river Arkavathy. The tribunal emphasized that such provisions were being made so that there would be clean and healthy water resources in the country, especially in rivers like Arkavathy, which is a lifeline for the communities dwelling around them.
Based on the discoveries, NGT has already issued notices to a couple of key authorities responsible for the protection of the environment. These involve member secretaries of both the CPCB and the KSPCB, in addition to officials from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change besides officials from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which is the civic body that oversees Bengaluru. The District Magistrate of Bengaluru has been impleaded as well as a respondent.
It brings in a host of authorities and thus affords a comprehensive inquiry into the causation of pollution and imposes liability for the present pollution of the river. The tribunal had issued notices to these respondents to file their responses which was to be done along with furnishing information regarding measures taken to control the pollution of the river Arkavathy.
Court Orders Continued Pollution
Such is the NGT’s order because it brings forth a disturbing issue-the pollution is on at the Arkavathy, despite the Karnataka High Court had issued a directive long back, asking to save the river. This brings in questions regarding effective implementation measures and judicial directions’ adherence in matters of the environment.
The major sources of pollution in the river are from domestic waste, untreated industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff. This has, to a great extent, been facilitated by rapid urbanization and population growth in Bengaluru situated below the Arkavathy river.
It is a fact that the local authorities and the experts in the environment have warned the public for years that contamination of this river was one of the main causes through industrial waste and agricultural runoff full of chemicals and heavy metals. It not only pollutes the aquatic system, but contamination of the river also causes grave public health risks to communities that use water from this river for drinking, irrigation of farms, and other normal household activities.
Future NGT Proceedings
The NGT has scheduled the next hearing of the case on February 10, 2024, in Chennai, before the southern zonal bench for further proceedings. The seriousness with which the tribunal is taking this case is reflected in the decision to seek responses from multiple government agencies. The NGT is likely to ask for a comprehensive action plan to address the pollution in the Arkavathy river, focusing on long-term solutions that will prevent further contamination.
Besides the causes for pollution, the tribunal would have an investigation into whether proper controls to pollute were already in place and adequately implemented. As this river serves for agriculture and provides water to many, NGT can certainly come out strongly arguing for the fact that action has to happen very urgently.
Conclusion
It is also an essential step through the process of accountability of authorities as a means for bringing rivers in India back on the right track, thereby intervention by the NGT into the matter of pollution of the Arkavathy river. Mercury, DDT, PAHs, and fluoride constitute a list of heavy metals and toxic substances existing in this river. All these are grave dangers not only to human health but also to the environment. The very action of the tribunal coupled with multiple government agencies will really determine the effectiveness of necessary measures taken to curb this pollution and restore the river’s ecological balance.
The NGT would hear the matter next on February 10; it would keep an eye and push hard for strict environmental norms implementation to save rivers and similar water bodies like the Arkavathy in India.
Source: National Green Tribunal (NGT)