Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
A report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board November 19, 2023 highlighted the presence of heavy metals in vegetables obtained from markets of Bengaluru city.
Among 320 samples analysed, 200 were found to be within the permissible limits pertaining to the concentrations of iron, zinc, manganese, copper and nickel. The concentrations of Chromium, lead and cadmium, however, exceeded the permissible limits of the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization / World Health Organization.
The concentrations of lead and cadmium were below detectable limits in vegetables from retail markets and organic stores.
The state pollution control board informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that to understand the extent of contamination in vegetables from selected stores / markets of Bengaluru, a more comprehensive and in-depth investigation / study involving its sources, soil, water, agri-inputs and diverse farming practices will be necessary involving the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) at state level.
Under the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) project of eco-restoration of Cooum river, 100,485 tonnes of debris and garbage dumped along the banks of Cooum river has been removed at a cost of Rs 6.25 crore.
A total of 14,257 project-affected families have been identified as ‘encroached’ along the banks of Cooum river. So far, 13,481 slum families encroached along the banks of Cooum river have been resettled in Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) tenements. Action is being taken for shifting of the remaining slum families to TNUHDB tenements.
Through regular cleaning work and periodic special drive, garbage accumulated in the bunds are cleared from the banks of Adyar and Cooum river. This was stated in the report filed by the Greater Chennai Corporation to the NGT November 10.
Under the CRRT project of eco-restoration of Cooum river, trash booms have been provided at eight locations across Cooum river for intercepting and collecting hyacinth and other floating materials from entering the area and removing them periodically. So far, around 39,000 tonnes of hyacinth and floating materials have been removed from eight locations.
Under the CRRT project of eco-restoration of Cooum river, construction of compound wall, boundary fence of the Cooum river have been taken up for a length of 23.92 km for preventing encroachments and preventing dumping of garbage and solid wastes. So far 20.54 km length of compound wall has been completed.
Stone crushing units in Birhi Kalan, Charkhi Dadri
Out of 30 stone crushing units located in Birhi Kalan, Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, 19 were found compliant, five dismantled and six were non-compliant due to inadequate air pollution control measures, said the joint committee status report.
As part of the remedial measures, the joint committee suggested closure action along with levy of environment compensation on the non-complying stone crushing units of Birhi Kalan, Charkhi Dadri be initiated by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.
The forest department should carry out strip plantation on the route toward stone crushers of Birhi Kalan, with assistance of stone crushing units as required by the forest department. Further, Haryana State Pollution Control Board should carry out regular monitoring of stone crushing units of Birhi Kalan, the report added.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.