Ground truthing has been completed for 674 of the 1,367 waterbodies identified as of December 2, 2024 in Delhi and all of them were found to be visible, according to a report submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 5, 2024.
As many as 1,045 of the waterbodies were listed and 322 more were identified through satellite imagery, according to the Wetlands Authority of Delhi. DPCC received these two lists of waterbodies along with geo-coordinates from Wetland Authority of Delhi following a decision taken by the Integrated Drain Management Cell in its 17th meeting held on April 18, 2024 on a matter related to the rise in urban flooding in Delhi and its link to the vanishing water bodies in the capital.
These lists were forwarded to concerned District Magistrates for ground truthing, the court was informed.
NGT December 3, 2024 directed Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure completion of the concretisation of the Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand road and repairs of the same within three months to limit dust pollution due to movement of vehicles.
As regards to air pollution being mitigated, the court was informed that steps were being taken, which are shown in Action Taken Report of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). These included the prohibition of transportation of dumpers, hyvas, ready mixed concrete (RMC) mixers, JCBs, road rollers from 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 9 pm. Fine was also imposed on 2,275 vehicles for causing pollution.
The Stone Crusher Association was issued a letter September 5, 2024 to control the dust emissions while transporting the RMCs and final product.
They were instructed to clean the road on a regular basis. The cleaning is being carried out at the site in question with a hydraulic broomer machine. Water was also sprinkled on the stretches, the tribunal was informed.
The western zone bench of NGT accepted all the recommendations made by MPCB in its action taken report and directed the board to carry out a periodic inspection of the site to ensure air pollution is brought under control at the site within the stipulated period.
The matter related to pollution caused by unregulated movements of trucks in Wagholi area of Pune, causing dust pollution and damaging the roads. Around 60 to 70 trucks were said to be commuting to and fro in Bawdi village, which led to massive air pollution.
NGT December 4, 2024 said that sufficient steps have been taken by the authorities to curb illegal mining in Muli, Sayla and Thangadh villages in Surendranagar district in Gujarat.
The district collector, Surendranagar has issued directions to their subordinates to ensure that illegal mining is stopped and for special awareness drives among locals of the three villages to control / arrest the same.
The matter was taken up by the western bench of NGT suo motu on the basis of a news item in The Hindu July 15, 2024 on the death of three people at an illegal coal mine in Gujarat.