The National Green Tribunal (NGT) monitoring committee on Monday directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board to take proactive steps for setting up three common effluent treatment plants for textile dyeing units in Ludhiana by June 30, besides conducting regular inspections of industries.

Reviewing the progress of the implementation of action plans for clean rivers, NGT committee Chairman Justice Jasbir Singh gave directions to the pollution control board for timely completion of the treatment plants and also directed all the departments to adhere to the timelines of the action plans for pollution control measures.

The committee observed non-compliance by effluent treatment plants has been reduced from 45 per cent in April 2019 to 20 per cent in November due to monitoring and improvement of operational practices.

It was also decided to organise a regional conference on the environment on February 7 in Ludhiana to sensitise the residents about the ill-effects of pollution.IANS