Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Improved formula for green crackers finalised, SC told
The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) told the Supreme Court on March 5 that the improved formulations for manufacture of green crackers has been finalised. The apex court said that once these new formulations are developed by the expert body, comprising experts from NEERI and PESO as well as others, there should not be any problem in manufacturing green crackers. It cautioned that no Barium Nitrate or Potassium Nitrate should be used as oxidizers.
All coal gasifier industries to be closed down in Morbi, Gujarat: NGT
A three judge bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on March 6 ordered that all coal gasifier industries and units operating with the help of coal gasifiers in Morbi town of Gujarat be closed down. The Gujarat State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has been directed to initiate immediate steps for prosecuting the industries which have operated in violation of law, and recover compensation for causing damage to the environment and public health. The amount would be assessed by a committee, comprising representatives of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), GPCB and NEERI. To oversee the execution of the order, the Tribunal appointed an oversight committee headed by Justice BC Patel.
File action plan on Solid Waste Management Rules 2016: NGT tells Gurgaon civic body
The NGT on March 5 noted that the delay in setting up of a solid waste processing facility in Gurgaon has resulted in damage to environment, by contamination of ground water on account of leachate discharge. Wildlife and inhabitants are being affected in terms of health by air pollution, by burning of waste or foul smell for which penal action including prosecution and recovery of actual damages are required, apart from remedial measures. The tribunal directed the civic body commissioner to file an action plan on the proposed action — preventive and remedial — to be taken in terms of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, within one week.
Luni river pollution: NGT orders Rajasthan government to deposit Rs 30 crore
River Luni at Balotra has been receiving industrial effluents and sewage as a result of which, it is not even fit for irrigation purposes, the NGT was told on March 6. Further, the installed Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) are not complying with the prescribed standards and the effluents are being discharged into the river directly or indirectly. Following the submission, the tribunal directed the state government to deposit Rs 30 crore with CPCB within one month, as an interim measure towards environment compensation, till complete details on health impact and damages to the agriculture are received. Also, the secretary (Health and Agriculture) has been asked to submit reports on the health status of villagers and agriculture.
NGT calls for report on CZMP for Sub-Urban Mumbai
The NGT on March 6 ordered that a report be submitted by a joint committee, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), CPCB, National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA), and the Institute of Remote Sensing, Chennai. It was hearing a plea seeking quashing of final Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Sub-Urban Mumbai to the extent of inclusion of Bandra Fort and its adjoining plots in Coastal Regulation Zone-II (CRZ).
Finalise ESZ around Keoladeo NP at the earliest: NGT
Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore of the NGT on March 6 gave the MoEF&CC four weeks time to issue the final notification for the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan.
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