95 industrial units in Bengal shut down on NGT's orders

Kolkata:The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has shut down 95 industrial units in the state in accordance with a National Green Tribunal judgement, an official said on Friday.

"The National Green Tribunal in November last year had said in its judgement that industries operating without the consent of the board and having no effluent treatment plant should be closed down immediately. As many as 95 units were closed down," WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said here on Friday at a seminar on the eve of World Water Day (March 22).

He also highlighted the issue of depletion of ground water in the state.

"Out of the 341 blocks in Bengal, 174 blocks had registered annual depletion of ground water of 20 cm," Rudra said, stressing on "less dependence on ground water and increased use of surface water".

He had earlier revealed that in Bengal, ground water in 81 blocks is contaminated with arsenic and in 49 blocks with fluoride.