Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal through the week
Marine pollution
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 3, 2019 directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to submit a comprehensive status report on coastal pollution within three months.
The tribunal stated that it was necessary to ensure that coastal water at beaches remained suitable for bathing, survival of aquatic life, fishing and contact sports, in accordance with the directions of the Water Act, 1974.
Committee to look into the disinfection of aircraft
The Supreme Court (SC) on November 29 directed a joint committee to look into disinfection of aircrafts and its impact on the health and safety of passengers and crew. The committee has to submit its report within two months from the date of the first meeting.
The issue of disinfecting aircraft, on the one hand, involves preventing the transmission of vector-borne diseases.
On the other hand, it involves issues pertaining to the health of passengers and crew who may be exposed to insecticides.
Hence, the apex court was of the view that the matter should be considered by a joint committee.
Shift dumping site away from the riverbed of Ganga, Rishikesh
The SC on November 29 directed the state of Uttarakhand to comply with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and shift the solid waste site from Munikriti, near to the riverbed of the Ganga to the proposed site at Lalpani Block I, Rishikesh on an expeditious basis.
Tushar Mehta, solicitor general of India, informed the court that the shifting of the solid waste management site suggested by an inspection team, involved felling of only forty trees.
The state has to compensate the uprooting of trees at the new site by planting trees according to the norms of compulsory afforestation. Further, steps should be taken to ensure the compliance of the 2016 Rules for closure and removal of the said waste dumps at the present site to ensure that the existing solid waste dumps do not contaminate the flowing river.
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