The Supreme Court February 24, 2025 directed all states to file their affidavits addressing concerns raised about antiretroviral therapy drugs for people living with HIV / AIDS. The states have been granted a month’s time to submit their response.
The SC also gave the go ahead to the petitioners (Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS & Others) to file on record a chart setting out the compliances made by various states and the Union of India. The apex court will next hear the case on April 4, 2025.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) February 24, 2025 directed Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development Limited to refrain from any constructions at Shristinagar Township project. The court stated that conducting any construction activities without obtaining environmental clearance (EC) would be a violation. Consequently, the project proponent should refrain from continuing the work, according to the order.
The report of the fact finding committee had imposed a penalty of Rs 12,75,000 on Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development Ltd for environmental damage. The district magistrate, Paschim Burdwan had also accepted the findings of the fact finding committee.
The counsel appearing for Bengal Shristi Infrastructure Development Limited sought time to file a response to the report of the fact-finding committee. Meanwhile, the project proponent claimed to have applied for the environmental clearance under the violation category, as the constructions were commenced before obtaining the Environmental Clearance. The process of the same has already been stayed by the Supreme Court.
The applicant, Ashish Kumar has filed the application alleging the dumping of debris into River Nunia. The applicant raised concerns about different construction projects, namely Tarang, Town House and Sangati. All the projects are being constructed on the land of Asansol Durgapur Development Authority allotted for Shristinagar Township project measuring 89.67 acres. It was mentioned that these projects lack environmental clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority.
It was further alleged that the illegal constructions have encroached the long stretch of the passing River Garui and have turned the river into a narrow drain. Garui feeds into Nunia, which in turn flows into the Damodar River, and both of these rivers have suffered significant impacts from various industrial and construction activities, it added.