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) directed a three-member committee on September 26, 2023, to look into a media report alleging widespread illegal sand mining in Jharkhand.
The report that appeared in daily Prabhat Khabar on September 8, 2023 highlighted the presence of 796 sand mining locations on riverbeds, even though mining is permitted in only 27 designated areas.
The report detailed the illegal sand mining activities across different districts, flagrantly violating the Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines of 2016 and the Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines of Sand Mining of 2020.
Due to the report’s grave concerns about environmental norm violations, the NGT mandated the formation of a joint committee. This committee will comprise the member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, the member secretary of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and the principal secretary of the Environment Department of Jharkhand.
The committee’s primary task is to investigate the illegal mining activities reported in the media and submit its findings. It will also suggest remedial measures before the eastern zone bench of the NGT within ten weeks.
On September 26, the NGT served notices to the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply, the Sewerage Board and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation through their respective secretaries and commissioners concerning the pollution of Pariki Cherueu lake.
This notice was issued on the basis of a news article titled Snow-like Chemical Foam Haunts, published in the Express News Service on September 8, 2023.
According to the news report, snow-like chemical foam has been recurring in residential areas in Kakatpally. The article attributes this foaming phenomenon to pollution in Pariki Cherueu Lake, which feeds into the Kukatpally nullah (waterbody), ultimately draining into Hussain Sagar Lake.
The news report further revealed that the Gajularamaram dumpyard, located upstream of Pariki Cherueu, is responsible for water pollution.
It is noted that proper waste segregation is not practised at this dumpyard, and the persistent foaming issue is seen as indicative of the overall inefficiency of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the Telangana State Pollution Control Board.
A report from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board highlighted that a major drain carrying domestic sewage joins the lake from upstream areas such as Lenin Nagar, Uma Devi Nagar, Chandra Nagar, Babani Nagar and Prakasam Panthulu Nagar.
Additionally, smaller sewage drains from neighbouring colonies on the north and west sides also contribute to the pollution of the lake. The report, however, noted the absence of industries upstream and observed no chemical dumping.
It explained the foam results from the fall of water from a height, and this foam accumulates near the culvert at Dharani Nagar as it flows downstream. The water quality in the lake is reported to be highly contaminated and unsuitable even for bathing. It is categorised under “E”, suitable only for irrigation, industrial cooling and controlled waste disposal.
The counsel representing SPCB informed the tribunal that a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 28 million litres per day is currently under construction upstream of Pariki Cherueu lake.
This plant aims to treat sewage water generated from nearby colonies and is being developed by the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
A housing society in Agra, known as Ganpati Classic Apartment, has been found to operate without the necessary environmental clearance or consent to operate. This information was disclosed in a joint committee report submitted to the NGT.
On September 26, the NGT, taking cognisance of the report, issued notices to various parties, including the project proponent, the vice-chairperson of the Agra Development Authority, the commissioner of the Agra Municipal Corporation and the president of the residents welfare association of Ganpati Classic Apartment.
The case is scheduled for its next hearing on December 13, 2023.
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