‘Grains not stored properly in FCI godown, rotting food creating pest hazard’

The National Green Tribunal has taken a suo motu cognisance of a plea alleging food grains are being improperly stored in a Food Corporation of India (FCI) godown in Punjab. The grains are rotting and pose a biological pollution risk to the area due to pest infestation.

Petitioner HC Singla alleged a number of violations at the godown located on Sirhind Road in Patiala. The rotting grain has become infested with floor beetles, posing a threat of further environmental infestation of nearby areas, he claimed.

Several violations have been alleged by the petitioner, the NGT Bench noted on October 31, 2022. The tribunal has jurisdiction over the issue due to the biological hazard posed by the incident under Sections 14 and 15 of the NGT Act, 2010.

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The Bench has constituted a joint committee to probe the matter and submit a report to the Bench. The committee will include members of the state’s pollution control board and district magistrate of Patiala.

“This joint committee will visit the affected area. If the committee finds any violation of environmental norms, it should take appropriate legal action without delay,” the Bench said.

The petitioner, in his plea, had alleged that the grains were not stored and handled properly in the godown, which posed a biological hazard in the area. Several residents were affected by the pests spreading in the area.

A Bench of Justices Sudhir Agarwal and Professor A Senthil made the Punjab Pollution Control Board the nodal agency in the matter before disposing of the order.