The National Green Tribunal has set up an expert body to find the reasons behind high pollution levels in Noida, after the Uttar Pradesh authorities said this was not due to industries alone and factors such as construction activities and vehicular emissions were equally responsible.

The expert committee was constituted by the bench headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar to find out the reasons behind the submission made by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in an affidavit, that Noida is a seriously polluted area.

“The most pertinent question that has to be examined by the tribunal is as to what are the reasons for the averments made in the affidavit of the MoEF. We must have complete information of the factors causing industrial or other pollution in Noida which is admittedly and certainly affecting the life of the residents of Noida. Keeping this in mind, we hereby constitute an expert body which shall report to the Tribunal as to the extent of the pollution and the causes for the pollution in Noida,” the NGT said and listed the matter for further hearing on February 19.

The committee shall have one member each representing the parties in the case, including the MoEF, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, the petitioner and the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, the tribunal has said.

The bench, also comprising its judicial member Justice P. Jyothimani and expert members G. K. Pandey, D. K. Agarwal and A. R. Yousuf, has directed the expert body to conduct surprise inspection of 30-35 industries.

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