Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
SC permits felling of 202 trees in Perumalai Forest for road, but with conditions
The two-member bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Deepak Gupta of the Supreme Court (SC) on April 22 granted permission for removal of 202 trees in the Perumalai Reserve Forest at Lingavadai Village in Natham Taluk, Dindigul district from L Malaiyur Forest Road upto Rajakadu for road construction.
The permission was granted subject to the fulfillment of conditions as per the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report which included approval to be obtained under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The conditions on which such approval has been granted also have to be fully complied with, including payment of Net Present Value (NPV) and compensatory afforestation to be undertaken in the non forest area identified for the purpose.
Further, the SC ordered that a six monthly report be submitted to the CEC with respect to plantation and its rate of survival and growth of newly planted trees. The first report should be submitted within six months, thereafter, in every six months, it has to be submitted to the CEC for a period of five years.
Joint committee to look into compliance of NGT orders on solid waste dumping in Vrindavan
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 22 ordered that a joint committee be formed, comprising representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Nagar Palika Parishad, Vrindavan, to look into the compliance of orders passed by the tribunal from 2016 to 2017 on unregulated dumping of municipal solid waste on the flood plain area of river Yamuna and burning of municipal solid waste.
TSDF facility violating environmental norms in Karnataka: NGT asks for a report
On April 22, the NGT was hearing a case on the violation of environmental norms by M/s Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd and M/s Ramky Infrastructure Ltd while operating Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF). The case has been transferred from the High Court of Karnataka.
The petitioners wanted the TSDF to be audited and deposit of funds by the service provider be ensured. Further, it was alleged that the environmental clearance, as required, has not been taken; nor post establishment preventive and remedial steps taken to comply with the requirement of Air Act 1981, Water Act 1974 and the Environment Act 1986.
The NGT directed that a factual analysis report be submitted by a joint committee, comprising representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), CPCB and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) within a period of two months.
Darjeeling District Magistrate to submit report on construction on the banks of river Balasan
The NGT on April 22 was hearing a case filed by Monojit Das on the violation of environmental laws in raising illegal constructions on two sides of the river bank barrage near Balasan river and Chamta river, near Siliguri town in West Bengal. The tribunal directed the District Magistrate, Darjeeling, to furnish a report on the issue.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
India Environment Portal Resources :
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.