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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on rising ozone pollution in urban India, posing serious health threats, particularly to those with respiratory problems.
On March 21, 2025, NGT heard the matter, of which it took suo-motu cognisance based on a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A news story on the report was published in Down To Earth August 6, 2024.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in its report on January 20, 2025, stated that the “data of ozone at 178 monitoring stations during the year 2023 reveals that 1-hourly exceedance (>5 per cent) of ozone is reported only at one stations each in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and 8-hourly exceedance (>5 per cent) of ozone is observed at 32 monitoring stations at Delhi-NCR (15), MMR (10), Jaipur (5) and Pune (2)”.
Delhi-NCR and MMR reported higher exceedances of ozone concentration compared to other regions, CPCB said.
The bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava, chairperson, NGT and Justice Sudhir Agarwal said that CPCB report reflected that excess of ozone was noticed in the monitoring stations at various cities.
“However, CPCB needs to disclose matching the observed values with National Ambient Air Quality Standards particularly with reference to exceedance criteria adopted for more than 5 per cent against exceedance of 2 per cent,” the order said.
MoEFCC has sought time to file the reply. The next date of hearing is July 24, 2025.
MoEFCC has developed an action plan outlining activities related to microplastics, in compliance with NGT’s directions dated March 1, 2023, which is presently under implementation by the concerned organisations including the CPCB. This was stated by the CPCB in its reply to NGT March 26, 2025.
CPCB, in its report, said that the fourth amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, February 16, 2022, notified “Guidelines on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging” in Schedule II of the rules.
EPR refers to the responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of its product until the end of its life. As per these guidelines, producers, importers and brand owners and plastic waste processors shall have to register through the online centralised portal developed by CPCB.
Manufacturers of compostable plastic or biodegradable plastic carry bags / commodities permitted under the rules shall obtain a certificate from CPCB before marketing or selling.
On March 25, 2025, the central bench of NGT in Bhopal requested a report from a four-member committee concerning a hotel operating near the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Jaipur, Rajasthan. This committee is to include the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest-cum Chief Wildlife Warden from the Rajasthan Forest Department, among others.
They have been instructed to visit the site and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks. The issue pertains to the illegal operation of Hotel Indana Palace, which is located 95 metres from the boundary of the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary and within its eco-sensitive zone.
The hotel has not obtained the necessary permissions, including recommendations from the National Wildlife Board and approvals from the state forest department, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and the Central Ground Water Authority.
The applicant also highlighted the unauthorised commercial and non-forest activities taking place in the village of Nangal Sunsawatan, Jaipur, which is within the eco-sensitive zone of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary.