Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Quash licence to 1,350 wood-based industries: NGT to Uttar Pradesh
A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and SP Wangdi of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 18, 2020 directed that the notification of the Uttar Pradesh government to give licence to 1,350 new wood-based industries / saw mills be quashed.
The NGT observed that there was hardly any industrial wood available for any new wood-based industries, based on the data made available by the state. Therefore, if new industries are allowed to open, a situation would arise "when there may not be any timber to be allotted to the unit or the industry may resort to illegal means to procure round timber in order to keep its unit afloat".
The tribunal also directed Uttar Pradesh to make an inventory of species. It directed the state to have species-wise consumption data of all wood-based industries and their capacity to utilise them. It further directed the state to not proceed with the present proposal till further exercise of making inventory and assessment of actual availability of timber/raw material has been done.
NGT disposes of application against Kangra industry
The NGT on February 18 disposed of the application against M/s ID Sood Ispat factory, operating at Kandrori, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, for polluting groundwater with fine iron particles.
Report filed by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) informed the tribunal that remedial action has been taken.
NGT directs UP Pollution Control Board to take action in polluting industry case
The NGT on February 18 directed the UPPCB to take action in the matter of pollution by M/s Hillal Bone Mill at village Babeina, Behjoi Road, Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh and ensure that the industry was compliant.
The UPPCB has been asked to ensure that a separate energy meter was installed for odour control system and verify that such a system was being operated in a continuous manner.
NGT seeks report on illegal construction in UP
The NGT on February 18 directed the district magistrate (DM), Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh, to submit a report on the allegation of illegal construction at Ghata No.635 at village Shivrampur, affecting a pond in the area.
The NGT had sought a report from the DM, Chitrakoot, on the matter in its order of April 15, 2019. However, no report has been furnished so far. The court gave one last opportunity for furnishing the requisite report before April 1, 2020.
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