Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Allegations against Jubliant in Amroha
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 1, 2019 heard the case of violation of environmental norms by Jubilent Group of Industries at Gajraula, in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district, affecting the health of inhabitants there.
A joint c ommittee of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), UPPCB, teh state health department, the district administration, UP Jal Nigam — the water authority — the horticulture department and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Amroha — an agri centre — submitted its report on September 13.
The panel inspected seven industries of the group, which included a coal-based power plant, distillery unit, fertiliser unit, a polymer unit and chemical units.
It observed that a captive power plant failed to meet the nitrogen dioxide emissions norms and its molasses-based distillery was operating without permission to extract ground water after April 4, 2019.
The report noted that the area deteriorated to ‘over-exploited’ from ‘semi-critical’. “In such a situation, while extraction of groundwater for drinking purposes may stand on different footing, there is no absolute right for such extraction for industrial purposes. Such extraction may lead to further deterioration of limited groundwater resource depriving the inhabitants of access to drinking water,” the NGT order said.
The green bench made it clear that remedial actions were be taken “if the units are to continue to function consistent with ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Precautionary’ principles” and that the activities of units have to be suitably regulated, stoppped or restricted as the case may be. It directed the committee to file further action-taken report within two months.
Bauxite mining in Kolhapur
The Supreme Court on November 4 took up the grant of mining lease to Putambekar Minerals in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur and directed a central empowered committee and the applicant to file an affidavit mentioning the area in which the bauxite mining is to be made, the flora and fauna in the mining area and the method of mining that would be adopted.
Low-grade coal
The NGT on November 1 directed the Punjab PCB to look into the use of inferior coal by Talwandi Sabo Power Plant that led to pollution of agricultural land in Batinda district's Mansa. An action-taken report is to be submitted within a month.
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