Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
More needs to be done to ensure sustainable development: NGT to Tamil Nadu
A compliance report was submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 23 by Tamil Nadu government indicating the steps taken for solid waste management, Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, Bio-medical Waste Management Rules 2016, polluted river stretches, polluted industrial clusters, air pollution and illegal mining.
The report mentioned that wet waste was collected on daily basis in the state with 93 per cent door-to-door collection, and 80 per cent source segregation was practiced along with a total ban on one time use and throwaway plastic from January 2019.
The NGT noted that there was a huge gap in the steps taken, and further steps are required to ensure sustainable development. It directed the state of Tamil Nadu, that apart from cities and towns declared as model cities and towns, at least three villages in every district be identified within two weeks and made fully compliant in respect of environmental norms within six months.
It also directed them to estimate the value of environmental degradation, and prepare cost of restoration and compensation, which should be recovered from polluters for environmental restoration and restitution on that basis.
NGT warns DPCC not to exceed its jurisdiction
The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice K Ramakrishnan of the NGT on April 25 expressed its displeasure with the attitude of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). It ordered the chief secretary, Delhi, to ensure that the DPCC does not exceed its jurisdiction and perform its duties as already directed.
The tribunal gave the order while going through the case of violation of environmental norms at Koyala village in Gokalpuri, Delhi.
STP at Supertech Eco city not working properly: NGT informed
A case of non-functioning of sewage treatment plant (STP) at Supertech Eco city, Noida, filed by the Ecociti GOWO Members Welfare Association came up for hearing on April 25 before the NGT. It was alleged that sewage is being disposed without treatment into the drains. The tribunal directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to look into the matter and submit an action taken report within two months.
Ambardi Safari Park needs approval under Forest Act 1980: NGT
Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore of the NGT on April 24 directed the state of Gujarat to seek approval for Ambardi Wildlife Interpretation Zone (Ambardi Safari Park) at Dhari in Amreli district, Gujarat, under Section 2 (ii) of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
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