Hindon River

About Hindon River:

• It is a tributary of the Yamuna River and is primarily a rain fed river.
• Course:
  • It originates from the lower Shivalik ranges in Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh.
  • It flows across the industrial belt of Western Uttar Pradesh for 400 kilometres before discharging into the Yamuna River in Noida.
• Tributaries: The Kali (West) River and Krishni River are the main tributaries of River Hindon.
• Due to urban, agricultural, and industrial waste which is being released without sufficient treatment into its waters, the Hindon is now one of the most polluted stretches in the Ganga basin.
• In 2015, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found the Hindon’s pollution levels were so severe that it was declared a ‘dead river’ and ‘unfit’ even for bathingin several sections of the river.

What is the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

• It has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
• Mandate: Effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
• NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.
• Composition: It comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and Expert Members.
• New Delhi is the principal place of sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.
• The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• It has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals as a Court.

Q1: What is the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

It is a statutory organisation constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. It provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and advises the Central Government on any matter concerning the prevention and control of water and air pollution and the improvement of the quality of air.

Source: River Hindon pollution: NGT allows UPPCB 2 weeks to file additional report