Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Remedial action by Suryamba
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 12, 2020 that requisite remedial actions were taken up by M / s Suryamba at Vivekanand Nagar in Nagpur district.
The MPCB had submitted a factual and action-taken report to the NGT on the matter after its visit to the site.
During inspection, the industry representative informed the MPCB that treatment facilities would be taken into the proposed new sewage treatment plant for further treatment.
A 115 cubic meter per day capacity sewage treatment plant for household and industry-treated sewage would be utilised within the factory premises for plantation. The industry also submitted a bank guaranteee of Rs 10 lakh valid up to September 10, 2020.
The MPCB also visited the field of the complainant (Shravan Kr Singh) alongwith the industry representative. There was no discharge of any liquid waste from the industry into the field.
The NGT sought an affidavit within a month and disposed of the case.
Coke as fuel
M / s Mettalic Alloys, situated in the Industrial Growth Centre, Siltara, Raipur, was not using coke as fuel, in violation of environmental clearance conditions, according to a report by the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board, made available online on May 11, 2020.
The 256-page report by the Board was filed in pursuance to the NGT order of August 20, 2019.
The company, in its report of September 19, 2019, to the Board, had said that they were not using coke as a fuel.
The process of electric submerged arc furnace was electrically operated and electricity was being supplied by the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Co Ltd. Further, manganese ore, dolomite and coke were being used as raw material for the manufacturing process, where coke is used as reducing agent.
For control of pollution from the furnace, a “well efficient heat exchanger with a bag filter containing 864 prescribed bags has been installed; which is attached with a chimney having a height of 30 metres to control the emissions under permissible limitx,” the report by Mettalic Alloys said.
Environmental compensation
A compliance report was filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in the matter of Action for Vigilance and Knowledge for Empowerment Vs Lalitpur Power Generation Co Ltd & Others.
The report was in compliance to the NGT order of February 17, 2020, on the failure of Lalitpur Power Generation Co to deposit the environmental compensation imposed against the unit by the UPPCB.
The report mentioned that the unit had been closed from March 20, 2020 to April 14, 2020 and thereafter, only one out of three units of 660 megawatt were in operation.
The industry had been closed since May 3 due to the collapse of the 220 kilovolt Lalitpur TPS-Jhansi line. The repair and maintenance work would be completed by May 22 and only then, would production be started.
“In the present situation, when the plant is not operational, it is not possible to verify the pollution, efficiency etc of the plant,” the report added.
Therefore, the inspection would be conducted after May 22 to verify the same and report submitted to the NGT. The report was made available online on May 13, 2020.
Construction in Shimla
The NGT on May 12 directed the administration to ensure that the construction of eleven-storied hotels / apartments on the agricultural land at Mohal Kiari / Rirka, in Shimla tehsil, falling within the municipal limits of Shimla, did not proceed further.
A report filed by the director, Town and Country Planning, Himachal Pradesh Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board informed the tribunal that the project proponent did not have environmental clearance.
There was nothing to show compliance of Air and Water Acts also.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.