JODHPUR, Nov. 7 -- The Central Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday directed all divisional commissioners and district collectors of Rajasthan to strictly follow the instructions issued by the public health, engineering and the groundwater departments in 2024. They have also been asked to ensure that no authority or the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is permitted to extract groundwater without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). The concerned District Collector has been directed to exercise the powers delegated by the CGWA, Ministry of Jal Shakti, strictly in letter and spirit. The division bench comprising justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, while disposing of the petition filed by Tahir Hussain, found that the petitioner had raised the issue of illegal operation of Karni Industrial Area (Karni Extension) in Bikaner without obtaining Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from RIICO under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The bench said, "RIICO is directed to strictly enforce the conditions of Environmental Clearance, specifically for construction and operation of the CETP, with regard to Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate (CTE) by the State PCB, providing 33% of the total plant area under green cover, expenditure of the amount fixed for CSR funds, green roof technology, stormwater management, water demand, permission from the CGWA, and 100% treatment of grey water through centralized treatment and separation of grey and black water using dual plumbing lines." It also directed RIICO to obtain the necessary Consent and No Objection Certificate from the competent authority within a reasonable time. The NGT said that if this is not done, the Pollution Control Board and the Central Ground Water Authority will have the right to take necessary action as per the rules, which may include prosecution, recovery of environmental compensation, penal provisions, and the levy of penal interest from the date of violation. "Respondent RIICO is further directed to complete the construction of the CETP and ensure it becomes operational within a reasonable time, not exceeding six months, and also to ensure that every unit has its own ETP/STP or gets connected to the CETP according to the guidelines issued by the State, subject to contribution as per rules made by the State. The State PCB and the CGWA are directed to strictly enforce the provisions and Environmental Clearance conditions and not permit any operation of the unit or RIICO without compliance with the requisite consent conditions and NOC issued by the competent authority," the bench ordered. The bench further said, "The Secretary of Environment, Government of Rajasthan, is directed to constitute a committee comprising senior officials of the Department of Environment, Department of Industries, Member Secretary of the State PCB, Director of the Central Ground Water Authority, or an official nominated by the CGWA, and to take immediate steps for implementation of the directions issued by this Tribunal within one month. The committee shall ensure compliance with environmental rules, establishment of the CETP, development of 33% of the area as green cover, compliance with the conditions of CTE and CTO, utilization of CSR funds, implementation of green roof technology, stormwater management, water demand management, separation of grey and black water, and all other conditions mentioned above with regard to RIICO."...