Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
A joint committee comprising officials of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the district administration, Muzaffarnagar, visited 14 industries in response to an NGT order dated July 21, 2022.
The tribunal constituted the committee in response to a petition. The industries have been discharging their treated effluent into Dhandhera drain, the petitioners alleged. The pulp and paper mills discharged highly polluted chemical fluids into the adjacent land, they said.
The respondents —Silvertoan Papers ltd and Tehri Pulp and Paper ltd — haven’t submitted the details of fly ash disposal.
These industries could not provide information regarding preventive measures taken to control fugitive emissions at dump sites, a report filed by the joint committee stated.
Another respondent — Shree Sidhbali Paper — did not comply with fly ash disposal norms, it added.
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) has been working on reducing pollution in its unit in the city, the company stated in a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), October 20, 2022.
The company invested Rs 312.6 crore to establish regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) in boilers, furnaces, gas turbines and hydrogen generation units. RLNG conversion will positively impact the carbon footprint — by reducing CO2 emissions, the report stated
The NGT took up a suo motu notice of a news report published November 11, 2020. Six industries in north Chennai should be held responsible for polluting the air for more than half the year, the report stated.
The industries listed in the report were — North Chennai Thermal Power Station, NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, Tamil Nadu Petro Products Limited, Manali Petrochemicals Limited and Madras Fertilizers Limited.
Steps are taken to prevent the flow of sewage into Adyar, Cooum and Buckingham Canal, stated the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSS) in its report to the NGT.
The NGT had initiated suo motu action based on a news report. The report pointed out the dumping of waste and encroachments along the Cooum river in Chetpet, Chennai.
CMWSS had taken up 15 sub-projects to implement the integrated Cooum river eco-restoration project, the report to the NGT stated.
Three modular sewage treatment plants are also employed for treating the diverted sewage, the report stated.
The NGT has directed the district authorities of Dehradun to appear personally before it in a case relating to an illegal waste processing unit.
The tribunal was responding to a petition October 20, 2022. The waste processing unit set up by Nagar Nigam (municipal council) at Shishambada Selakui has been polluting Aasan river, the petitioner alleged.
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.