Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Ensure proper functioning of STPs/CETPs/ETP: NGT to chief secretaries
A report submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 19 in the matter of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti Vs Union of India mentioned that "as per the data received from 25 SPCBs/PCCs, out of total 44,838 industries requiring ETPs, 44,100 industries are operating with functional ETPs and 439 industries are operating without ETPs". Also states like Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have not furnished the relevant data to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The Tribunal was hearing a case on the establishment and functioning of ETPs/CETPs/STPs. It has directed state chief secretaries to look into the matter and inform the court on the progress.
Geo-reference mapping of forest areas going on: Maharashtra to NGT
The NGT on February 18 directed Maharashtra to submit an updated status report on the digitisation and geo-reference mapping of forest areas which has to be completed within the timelines mentioned in the action plan. Counsel for the state of Maharashtra informed the court that the action plan implementation process is going on and has been completed in 10 districts. In the remaining 22 districts, the process will be completed within the timelines mentioned in the action plan.
Polluters liable for past polluting activities: NGT on Mandovi river pollution
The NGT on February 20 directed Goa State Pollution Control Board to make an assessment of the amount of compensation to be recovered and the persons from whom such recovery is to be collected with respect to pollution in river Mandovi. The NGT order came in response to a plea filed by local inhabitants.
NGT asks for action plan to check pollution of Kondli canal
The Noida Authority and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on February 19 were directed by the NGT to furnish a joint report on discharge of untreated sewage in the irrigation canal near Sector 137, Noida, at Kondli village, in violation of the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, the tribunal asked CPCB, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi Jal Board (DJB), East Delhi Municipal Corporation, Noida Authority and UPPCB to hold a joint meeting within one month and prepare an action plan to check the water pollution. The plan may also include action to be taken for prohibiting the discharge of effluents, for prosecuting the polluters and recovering the compensation for damage being caused to the environment.
Implement Zig Zag Technology in brick kilns of West Bengal: NGT
Justice S P Wangdi and Justice K Ramakrishnan of the NGT on February 19 directed the state of West Bengal and the State Pollution Control Board to submit a report detailing whether the Zig Zag Technology has been introduced or not within the time frame prescribed by the CPCB.
Saswad Municipal Council to pay Rs 25 lakh for discharge of untreated sewage in river Karha
The NGT on February 20, while expressing its displeasure at the delay in the commissioning of a municipal solid waste plant, said that the Saswad Municipal Council should be made accountable for the discharge of untreated sewage in river Karha and its streams. The Tribunal ordered the municipal council to furnish a performance guarantee of Rs 25 lakh to CPCB within one month and to give an undertaking to make the STP fully functional and operative within one-and-a-half-years; and in the default, the amount would be forfeited.
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