Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
The Kerala High Court, on October 4, 2023, emphasised that general hospitals, vital for meeting the medical needs of ordinary people, must be maintained as “exemplary centres of excellence”.
The court was responding to a petition highlighting a significant issue at General Hospital, Ernakulam and other facilities. Despite being fully equipped for complex surgeries, including cardiac procedures, these hospitals are not effectively utilising their facilities due to the absence of cardiac surgeons.
The government pleader informed the court that no positions for cardiac surgeons have ever been created at General Hospital, Ernakulam, or similar health service institutions.
Cardiac surgeries in these institutions, managed by the director of health services, are being conducted with the assistance of surgeons from other institutions, such as medical colleges.
The government pleader requested a few days to submit detailed information through a written statement, which the court accepted.
Furthermore, the court noted that several highly qualified surgeons were willing to volunteer their services to general hospitals on specified dates. However, HC emphasised that the hospital’s superintendent and other relevant authorities would need to initiate a decision on this matter.
The municipal solid waste dumping site of Valsad Nagarpalika is right next to the banks of the Auranga river. And the authorities haven’t yet established a scientifically designed landfill for the proper disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW), noted a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on October 3, 2023.
The municipal authority has been disposing of MSW on open land near a sewage treatment plant adjacent to the river’s bank.
MSW, collected from residential, commercial and non-residential areas within the municipality’s jurisdiction, is transported to the riverbank near the railway bridge using tractors and tempos.
The municipal authority has haphazardly stored waste at the site, with no infrastructure for processing fresh waste or any facilities for managing legacy waste. During an inspection, it was observed that animals were grazing on the dumping site, and there was no visible waste processing.
On October 3, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) directed the Islampur Municipal Council, Maharashtra, to submit an affidavit detailing its compliance with SWM Rules, 2016.
The municipal council is also asked to outline the preventive measures adopted by it to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the Krishna river. The affidavit must be filed within one month, and the next hearing is scheduled for November 20, 2023.
Additionally, SC has temporarily suspended the NGT’s order from October 18, 2022, which mandated compensation from the municipal council.
On October 3, SC directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to submit a comprehensive affidavit detailing its measures to adhere to SWM Rules, 2016.
The court was responding to the corporation’s request seeking a stay on the environmental compensation levied on it. The court, however, approved the request.
Although there is a stay in the order directing payment of compensation, the affidavit must be submitted by November 28, 2023, it said.
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