NGT Criticizes CPCB-Led Joint Committee for Delayed Report on Pollution in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Joint Committee, led by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), for its failure to submit a report on the alleged industrial pollution and encroachment in Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The tribunal has now directed the committee to submit the long-overdue report within one month, warning that failure to comply would result in all committee members being summoned before the court.

The order, issued by the Principal Bench of the NGT on October 4, follows a complaint filed by Utpal Saikia and others. The complaint highlights the serious threat posed by industrial activities, such as the establishment of brick kilns and cement factories, to the biodiversity of the sanctuary. The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, known for its rich ecology, is home to over 100 one-horned rhinos, 300 Indian buffaloes, leopards, deers, pangolins, and wild boars.

The NGT had previously formed a Joint Committee to investigate the matter, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Assam State Pollution Control Board, CPCB, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Assam. The CPCB was tasked with coordinating the investigation and ensuring the committee’s directives were carried out. However, the tribunal expressed its frustration that, despite clear orders, no report has been submitted.

The NGT has now set a strict deadline of one month for the report submission and cautioned that if this deadline is not met, the tribunal will require all committee members to appear before it. The case’s next hearing is scheduled for November 5, 2024.

The tribunal’s strong stance underscores the importance of addressing environmental concerns in Pobitora, which is not only a sanctuary for endangered species like the one-horned rhinoceros but also a critical ecological area for Assam and beyond.