Show compliance of NGT order on effluents, SC tells civic chief

Mumbai: The Supreme Court has directed municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal to personally file an affidavit before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to show compliance of its order for effective discharge of effluents after treating these to prevent coastal water pollution.

- Swati Deshpande

The commissioner was directed by the NGT on July 16 to appear before it in person on September 28, but the SC waived that requirement.

“The discharge of untreated sewage and waste from Mumbai is a matter of serious concern and needs to be attended to with the highest priority. The protection of the environment is a matter of universal concern. The municipal corporation and the municipal commissioner must respond to the notice which has been issued by the NGT. At the same time, recourse to coercive steps against the municipal commissioner is not appropriate, particularly when the official is engaged in a herculean effort to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic for protecting the residents of the metropolis,” said a bench of Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice M R Shah on Friday.