Poultry farms cause pollution, can't be exempted from regulation: NGT

National Green Tribunal has directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to revisit guidelines for classifying poultry farms as Green category industry and exempting ir regulation under various laws.

green panel asked CPCB to issue fresh appropriate orders within three months and if furr order is issued, all state pollution control boards will require enforcement of consent mechanism under Air, Water and Environment Protection Acts.

"Till n, even without such consent mechanism, state pollution control boards may strictly enforce environmental rms and take appropriate remedial action against any violation of water, air and soil standards statutorily laid down," a bench heed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said.

tribunal said sustainable development is a part of right to life and state authorities are under obligation to protect environment as per sustainable development concept.

"Responsibilities of states to environment are by Public Trust Doctrine. Water Act, Air Act, and Environment (Protection) Act have been enacted in wake of international conventions and override all or legislations.

"y create an obligation on regulatory authorities to enforce environmental measures. re is discretion to exempt mandate of Water Act for activities having potential to cause water pollution," bench said.

NGT said operation of poultry farms has potential to cause dam to environment which needs to be regulated.

It ted submission of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute that poultry production is associated with a variety of environmental pollutants, including oxygen-demanding substance, ammonia, solids, besides it attracts flies, rodents, dogs and or pests that create local nuisances and carries diseases.

"Poor manment of manure, litter and wastewater etc. versely affects living in vicinity. Odour is generated for fresh and decomposed waste products such as manure, carcasses, fears and bedding litter. Furrmore, intensive poultry production may be responsible for greenhouses gasses, acidification and eutrophication," tribunal ted.

NGT was hearing plea filed by animal activist Gauri Maulekhi seeking quashing of CPCB's 2015 guidelines exempting commercial poultry farms from provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and delegating power to local authorities.

As per guidelines, farms which have more than one lakh birds are required to take clearance under section 25 of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, while poultries with 5,000 birds have to register mselves with local authorities.

plea claimed that poultry farms caused extensive pollution in surrounding areas as y have thousand of birds in intensive confinement, resulting in huge accumulation of waste.

This huge quantum of waste is seldom disposed scientifically. poultries impact ecology and living of those who surround farm. Pests which are attracted to farms make it difficult for people living in vicinity, it said.

"To keep thousands of birds alive in such intensive confinement and unclean surroundings it becomes important to minister n-rapeutic antibiotics regularly. ministration of se antibiotics versely affects health of those who live around farms and those who consume birds or eggs," plea said.

It has also sought directions to regulate use of antibiotics in poultry farms so that se drugs are t ministered indiscriminately.

Im credits: PTI