Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a joint committee to submit a report on the ongoing development projects in the no-construction zone of lake Upper, Bhopal. The tribunal was responding to a petition on May 2, 2023.
Construction and development within the no-construction zone adversely affect the water quality. If not prevented, it can also affect sedimentation, urban stormwater runoff, pollution of water systems and harm the aquatic environment, said the petitioner.
The applicant contended that a report submitted by the municipal corporation, Bhopal, had sought clarification concerning the full-tank capacity of the lake.
But the authorities permitted the construction activities without clarifying it. This also violates Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, they added.
Domestically generated sewage is the main reason for the pollution of the Pamari drain in the Firozabad district, Uttar Pradesh, a petitioner told the NGT. Based on the petition, the tribunal constituted a joint committee and sought its report.
The domestic sewage discharged in the Pamari drain travels around 12 kilometres before it is used by local farmers for irrigation purposes, the committee reported.
Currently, there is no risk of direct sewage discharge into the Yamuna, but it may meet the river during monsoon. During the inspection, some toilets were found over the drain.
The municipal authorities claimed they had constructed a permanent rooftop slab over the Pamari drain. And toilets were provided with septic tanks and soak pits.
West Bengal government has identified two dredging / de-silting sites on the river Subarnarekha. Both locations have huge riverbed aggradations (deposition of sediments), which have decreased the capacity of the river to carry water to a great extent.
This siltation on the river bed and reduced carrying capacity were causing inundations in the adjoining areas, the government stated in an affidavit submitted to the NGT.
The sediment deposition has resulted in the widening of the channel, meandering the river course and bank erosion, it added.
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