(Tribune)
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the inspection of areas around a paper mill in Nainital after a plea alleged the release of toxic liquid and solid waste in the reserve forest near it.A Bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice UD Salvi ordered the Central and Uttarakhand pollution control boards to jointly inspect and collect soil and water samples from the areas around the Century Pulp and Paper Mill and the adjacent Gaula river within a month.The green panel also directed the paper unit to install Mark II hand pumps at the villages of Bindukhatta and Shantipuri along the Paha drain in Udham Singh Nagar district within two months. Mark II is a human-powered pump designed to lift water from a depth of 50 metre or less.