Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Ashwani Khud pollution
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 12, 2020 disposed off the application on the pollution of the Ashwani Khud river in Himachal Pradesh after going through the reports submitted by the Municipal Council of Solan alongwith with an affidavit of compliance filed by the Municipal Corporation, Shimla, which stated that requisite action had been taken in the matter.
The river was found to be full of plastic which called for directions of the tribunal. It was found that solid waste had accumulated in the drains which were joining the river. The NGT directed that there should be regular removal and cleaning and trap nets be installed on major rivulets and drains connected to Ashwani Khud.
Waste management in Chandigarh
The NGT on February 12 directed a committee headed by Justice Pritam Pal, former Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court to oversee the compliance of the tribunal's orders on disposal of waste in Chandigarh and submit a report after one month.
Earlier the matter was dealt within the context of unsatisfactory working of solid waste processing plant operated by M/s Green Tech Fuel processing plant run by M/s Jaiprakash Associates Limited under a contract dated August 30, 2005 from the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh for 30 years. Disputes arose between the project proponent and the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh affecting waste management and consequential impact on environment.
NGT directed that while the dispute between the corporation and the project proponent may be settled at an appropriate forum, the basic responsibility for disposal of waste lies with the corporation. It is for the corporation to take a decision whether the contract assigned to the project proponent is viable or satisfactory or not and if not, what alternative arrangement is to be made. The corporation has to ensure that solid waste management takes place appropriately and expeditiously without endangering the life of people
Protect Deepor Beel: NGT
The NGT on February 11 directed the state of Assam to expeditiously complete the task of removing hydrophytes from the Deeport Beel and to issue a notification declaring the eco-sensitive zone of Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary within one month.
The tribunal also looked into the disposal of the legacy waste at Goraigaon site and the setting up of the decentralised processing plants.
The court said that the work on disposal of legacy waste can commence even if the decentralised processing plants have yet not been setup as the objectives of the two are quite distinct. Further, Assam was directed to ensure that the land identified for the purpose of the Integrated Solid Waste Treatment Plant and the decentralised processing plant are handed over to Guwahati Municipal Corporation within one month.
Matheran Eco-sensitive Zone
The NGT on February 13 directed the state of Maharashtra not to take up any new construction on the Matheran eco-sensitive zone for the time being.
Drinking water unit penalised
The NGT on February 13 directed the manufacturer of a packaged drinking water unit operating in Ahinsangar, Aurangabad to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 5,86,368 assessed by the Central Pollution Control Board within a period of one month.
An application was filed against the industrial unit for operating in an residential area and illegally withdrawing groundwater through dug well and bore well.
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