Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Maharashtra tiger corridors
Road projects in Maharashtra’s tiger corridors needed to follow all safety procedures for the protection of wildlife, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said July 7, 2020. The projects could proceed, subject to the action plan prepared by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the court added.
The NGT order came in the wake of objections raised by the Union Ministry of Road Transport. The ministry had said it would not be able to spend on wildlife safety measures.
RDC Concrete in Faridabad
The NGT on July 7 directed that a factual and action taken report be filed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the deputy commissioner as well as the district magistrate of Faridabad on the violation of environmental norms by RDC Concrete India Pvt Ltd.
Arjun Singh, who filed an application in this regard, had claimed that ground water was being extracted by the company without requisite permission. This was adversely affecting the environment and no appropriate action was being taken by the authorities, he had added.
Mayapuri borewells
One hundred and forty one illegal borewells were found in Mayapuri by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), out of which 91 had been sealed, the body said in its report to the NGT.
The remaining illegal borewells could not be sealed due to lack of police force for protection, it said. The police had to report for containment duty. This was followed by the COVID-19 lockdown which was put in place on March 25. Thus, no further sealing programme had been scheduled till date.
The DJB report was in compliance of the NGT order of November 1, 2019 to look into the illegal extraction of ground water at Mayapuri for commercial purposes.
Bawana TSDF facility
The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (DSIIDC) on July 7 filed its report on the status of setting up of a treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF) for hazardous waste at Bawana, Delhi.
The proposal of Tamil Nadu Waste Management Ltd (TNWLM) for grant of terms of reference with respect to the TSDF facility was considered by an Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and on January 6, the terms of reference were issued by the EAC.
On February 26, the TNWLM forwarded the Draft EIA report to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for conducting public hearing for environmental clearance.
The public hearing was cancelled due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The DSIIDC assured the NGT of expeditious completion of the TSDF project without any delay, once the public hearing process was completed and the necessary environmental clearance granted.
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