In a significant ruling, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed an appeal filed by the owner of a poultry farm in Punjab, thereby upholding the Punjab Pollution Control Board's (PPCB) order to disconnect electricity and shut down the unit for flouting environmental norms.
NGT Examines Record, Finds Multiple Violations
The appeal was filed against a PPCB order dated March 4, 2025, which was issued under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. After a thorough examination, the Tribunal found the poultry farm was operating without a valid Consent to Operate. This is a mandatory requirement and its absence directly contravenes the Central Pollution Control Board's Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Farms issued in August 2021.
Inspections by the authorities revealed a series of serious deficiencies at the farm. These included:
- Improper management of poultry waste.
- Inadequate stack height for diesel generator sets.
- Absence of water meters.
- Violations of the prescribed siting criteria for such establishments.
Proximity to School a Major Factor in Decision
A critical finding by the NGT was the farm's location. The tribunal recorded that the poultry unit was situated merely 80 metres from a government school. This proximity blatantly violates environmental safeguards and siting norms designed to protect public health, especially that of children who are more vulnerable to pollution.
The Tribunal also noted that the PPCB had issued several prior directions to the farm owner. These included the rejection of the Consent to Operate application, the issuance of closure orders, and directions to relocate the farm to a compliant site. The appellant had neither legally challenged these orders nor complied with them.
No Grounds for Appeal, Closure Upheld
The NGT held that the continued operation of the farm despite repeated violations fully justified the PPCB's consequential action of ordering an electricity disconnection. The Tribunal found no illegality, arbitrariness, or procedural flaw in the board's actions.
Consequently, the National Green Tribunal dismissed the appeal, affirming the PPCB's closure order and the disconnection of the farm's power supply. This ruling reinforces the authority of pollution control boards to take strict action against units that persistently ignore environmental regulations, particularly when they pose a risk to vulnerable populations.
