NGT Pulls Up Himachal Officials for Inaction on Polluting STPs in Kullu — Fines Top Brass ₹10K Each, Seeks Fresh Report.
Shimla, August 4, 2025:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down hard on senior officials of Himachal Pradesh for failing to act against illegal and polluting sewage treatment plants (STPs) operating in Kullu.
Expressing serious displeasure over the lack of transparency and compliance, the green panel imposed a personal penalty of ₹10,000 each on the defaulting officers and directed them to file a detailed status report within a week.
Tribunal Slams State on Pollution Data Gaps
During the hearing, the NGT found that neither the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) nor the Urban Development Department had furnished accurate or complete information on the functioning and compliance of STPs across the Kullu valley, especially those installed in popular tourist towns like Manali, Bhuntar, and Naggar.
Despite previous orders, officials failed to explain:
Whether STPs were running with proper environmental clearance.
The volume of untreated sewage being discharged into the Beas River and its tributaries.
Any penalties, action taken, or compensation collected from defaulters.
The tribunal flagged these lapses as “administrative evasion” and said such behavior defeats the very objective of sustainable development in ecologically fragile zones like Kullu.
Beas River Under Threat
Environmental activists and citizen groups in the region have long raised concerns that sewage from unregulated hotels, homestays, and towns is directly entering the Beas, especially during the peak tourist season when water consumption and waste generation skyrocket.
An earlier field report submitted by a court-appointed committee had already revealed:
Several STPs in the region were either non-functional or severely under-capacity.
In many cases, grey water was being dumped untreated into open drains and riverbanks.
Despite this, no substantial corrective action has been documented by the state, prompting the NGT’s reprimand.
The NGT has now ordered:A fresh ground verification report by the Pollution Control Board and Urban Development Department.
Exact data on number of STPs, their capacity, compliance status, and pollution load.
A summary of action taken against defaulting operators — both public and private.
A comprehensive plan to plug sewage outflows into the Beas and its tributaries.
The tribunal has made it clear that further non-compliance will invite harsher penalties and even criminal liability under the Environment Protection Act.
Public Reaction
Local environment groups have welcomed the NGT’s move. “For years, we’ve watched our rivers become dumping grounds for untreated sewage, while the administration looked the other way,” said an environmental activist from Bhuntar. “The court’s order is a wake-up call, not just for officials but for citizens.
As Himachal battles intense monsoon damage and climate-driven disasters, the NGT’s strict orders come as a reminder that environmental negligence has legal and ecological consequences.
In a tourism-heavy zone like Kullu, where rivers double up as lifelines and livelihoods, pollution is not just a legal issue — it’s a ticking time bomb.
#NGTOrder #BeasRiverPollution #KulluEnvironment #STPViolation
