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) September 11 directed notice to be issued to the member-secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, member-secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board and the commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana to file their response on the delay in functioning of the carcass disposal plant in Ladhowal village, Ludhiana district, Punjab. They were also asked to disclose the reason, if any, for non-compliance of the directions of the court.
The issue raised in the original application was the crude and unscientific carcass disposal in the village.
The tribunal, in its previous orders, had constituted a committee and had also called for the report.
One of the recommendations made by the Monitoring Committee was in respect of construction work of the modern carcass plant by December 31, 2020; installation of machinery by January 31, 2021 and commissioning of the plant by August 28, 2021.
The counsel for the petitioner has pointed out that though the new carcass disposal plant has been constructed, it has not been made operational till now and the old plant is functioning, resulting in the discharge of waste in River Satluj.
He has also submitted that the direction issued by the tribunal in respect of commissioning of the new plant has not been complied with. The compensation of Rs 8 lakh, which was required to be paid by the municipal corporation for delay in taking necessary steps, has also not been paid till now, he added.
The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board and Mining Department was directed by NGT September 11 to enforce the recommendations given by the joint committee constituted by the orders of the court to look into the allegations of illegal mining of dolomite in Raigarh and Sarangarh districts of the state.
Some of the recommendations listed by the joint committee and approved by the court include the following:
A three-member committee was directed by NGT, Central Zone Bench, Bhopal to look into the issue of cutting of trees and encroachment of green belt area in Bhopal city.
The NGT directed the applicant, Subhash C Pandey, to submit a detailed report with regard to violations committed so that Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board and Municipal Corporation, Bhopal would be able to submit their replies.
The specific contentions are (i) cutting of trees (ii) encroachment on the green belt area (iii) use of green belt area by the occupiers in violation of environmental rules.
Pandey said that under the Capital Project Administration, plantation was done in Bhopal city but the trees and plants are being cut or damaged and land under plantation has been diverted or continuously under encroachment by unauthorised persons for personal and commercial purposes.
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