Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Stone crushers in Mahendergarh
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 24, 2019 ordered deputy commissioner of Mahendergarh, Haryana to close all illegally operating polluting stone crushers in the district and to initiate action against them.
The stone crushers were close to plantation, reserved forest and educational institution, according to the application filed by Mahendra Singh.
The area has been already suffering from scarcity of drinking water and the operation of stone crushers would lead to extraction of ground water, it added.
The tribunal also directed the deputy commissioner of Mahendergarh to assess the compliance of environment norms including the siting criteria, the ambient air quality, the carrying capacity of the area for permitting such polluting activity and health impact on the inhabitants.
Illegal operation of SWM plant
The NGT on July 24, 2019 asked the Nagar Nigam of Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district to file a factual and action taken report regarding the illegal operation of the solid waste management plant at Fazalpur Mehraula village in Rudrapur Block.
The application was filed by the Fazalpur Mehraula dumping ground Virodh Samiti.
Illegal brick kilns
The NGT on July 24, 2019 ordered the Uttar Pradesh’s pollution control board (PCB) and the district magistrate of Sambhal and Moradabad to submit a report on the illegal brick kilns operating in the districts.
The kilns were operated by Sakar Hari Eit Udyog and Jaisriram Brick Works. The tribunal was hearing an application filed by Prem Singh and others.
Raj Mahal hills
The NGT on July 24, 2019 considered remedial action against damage to the hills of Raj Mahal in Sahebganj district, Jharkhand.
A bench led by Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel, SP Wangdi and K Ramakrishnan had, in December 2018, asked Jharkhand’s PCB and the divisional forest officer of Sahebganj to file a report within a month. But no report was received even after six months.
The tribunal directed member secretary of the state PCB to be present on the next date of hearing, failing which non-bailable warrant would be issued aginst him.
Sand mining on River Saryu
The NGT considered remedial action against illegal sand mining on the banks of river Saryu in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is diverting the course of the river. The illegal mining has led to flooding, environmental degradation and also affected crops.
The tribunal had, in January 2019, asked the district magistrate of Ayodhya to file a report within a month. But, even after six months no such report has been submitted, the tribunal observed.
In its order on July 24, 2019, the tribunal gave directions for the district magistrate, Ayodhya to be present on the next date of hearing, failing which a non-bailable warrant will be issued against him.
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