Parliament Question: Restoration of Daman Ganga River

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3462 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 Restoration of Daman Ganga River 3462. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBHAI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether the National Green Tribunal has passed orders relating to the restoration of the Daman Ganga River and environmental compensation in cases related to the Vapi-Daman industrial belt, if so, the action taken so far for compliance therewith and the reasons for non-compliance of said orders, if any; (b) whether permitting the operation of CETPs/industries despite violations of the prescribed standards having been found during joint inspections is in conformity with the 'Polluter Pays' and the Precautionary Principle, if so, the basis thereof; (c) whether the Government has issued directions prescribing stricter emission standards, mandatory Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and independent third-party audits for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries; and (d) whether the Government is likely to provide details of the cost, timeline and agencies responsible for the implementation of the NGT's 2019 restoration order and the details of the dedicated ecological fund and accountability measures for the Vapi-Daman region? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a): There are ongoing litigations regarding the pollution of mentioned rivers by industrial belts of Vapi- Daman. In one of the matter, Original Application No. 95 of 2018 (PB), New Delhi titled as Aryavart Foundation v/s M/s Vapi Green Enviro Ltd. (CETP Vapi) was filed before Hon’ble NGT, pertaining to discharge of untreated/partially treated trade effluent by more than 500 industrial units of Vapi industrial cluster into River Damanganga which meets the Arabian Sea at Daman; pollution in River Damanganga; and non-compliances of discharge standards by industries & CETP, Vapi. Vide order dated 11.01.2019, a five-member committee comprising of CPCB, IIM-Ahmedabad, IIT- Gandhinagar, NEERI-Nagpur & GPCB was constituted to assess the extent of damage and cost of restoration of the environment, individual accountability and liability of CETP and polluting industries. Subsequently, the Hon’ble NGT, vide order dated 28.08.2019, imposed environmental compensation of ₹117.72 crore (₹92.36 crore on the CETP and ₹25.36 crore on individual industries).The said order was challenged before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal No. 9398/2019 (M/s Vapi Green Enviro Limited vs. Aryavart Foundation & Ors.), wherein a stay has been granted, and the matter is presently sub judice. (b): As informed by Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Pollution Control Committee (DNH&DD PCC), there is no CETP established or operating in the UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and operation of industries in violation of the prescribed environmental standards is not permitted in the UT. Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has informed that CETPs and industries are allowed to operate only in compliance of the prescribed standards under the environmental laws. (c): As informed by GPCB, emission standards as per the notifications and guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is prescribed by the GPCB. GPCB has prescribed stricter emission standards including Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) and independent third-party audits based on the factors like location, scale, product profile, pollution load of the industry, availability of common environment infrastructure and other factors. As informed by DNH&DD PCC, in the UT of DNH&DD, all industries are required to comply with the prescribed standards. Further, all industries in the UT are mandated to operate under Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). Compliance is ensured through regular inspections and environmental monitoring. (d): As informed by GPCB, the Hon'ble NGT order dated 28.08.2019, in the matter of M/s Vapi Green Enviro Ltd. & Ors. Vs. Aryavart Foundation is stayed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The matter is presently subjudice. *****