Environment

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 22, 2019)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Wednesday 22 May 2019

Crores siphoned off: NGT

Crores of rupees used for preservation of natural and human habitat of Giriraj Parvat has been stolen at the cost of human-environmental damage, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said in an order on May 17, 2019.

The tribunal emphasised that the Parvat was declared forest by the Uttar Pradesh government in 1998; no individual can raise any construction on it and the ancient temples on it cannot be a property of any individual or society.

The NGT directed the Mathura district magistrate and senior superintendent of police to be present before it at the next hearing on June 27.

Environment audit of national highway

The NGT on May 17, 2019 called for an environment audit of the work undertaken by National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHAIDCL) at Batheri Chungi and Nallupani areas of the NH-34 by a committee.

The audit is meant to ascertain the total quantity of muck/debris generated by works undertaken by NHAIDCL, quantity disposed at designated dump site, capacity of designated site, adequacy of protection measures, any short comings in terms of muck quantities generated and scientifically disposed, which can be specifically attributed to NHAIDCL.

The committee has been asked to furnish the report within one month. The matter relates to dumping of muck waste into Bhagirathi River in Batheri Chungi and Nallupani areas of the NH-34 leading to the Gangotri Dham.

STF to monitor Jodhpur industries 

The NGT on May 17, 2019 expressed unhappiness that despite repeated directions, the common effluent treatment plants have not treated the effluent from industries in Jodhpur and the same is discharged in river / storm water drain / open places. 

This practice has continued except for short intervals. It is only when either the matter is listed before the tribunal and directions are passed or a commissioner is appointed for site inspection that effluent is treated and the method provided under the relevant law is followed, it said.

In view of the above situation, the tribunal directed the director general of police, Rajasthan, to constitute a special task force to be headed by a senior officer not less than the rank of an additional superintendent of police.

The special task force shall work round the clock, in three shifts and keep vigil over discharge of industrial effluents and prevent the same from being disposed in a river, nallah, storm water drain, any open space, land belonging to public or panchayat, except the one permitted under consent order and appropriate criminal prosecution shall be initiated, said the tribunal.

Marriage halls in Meerut violating environmental norms: NGT

A report received by the NGT on May 17, 2019 from a committee — comprising nominees of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the Divisional Commissioner (Meerut) — has found that some marriage halls violating environmental norms, like groundwater extraction through borewells and illegal encroachments.

The UPPCB stated that electricity of borewells has been disconnected but compensation for violation of environmental norms has not been recovered. The NGT directed the committee constituted for the purpose to assess the compensation for the damage to the environment and furnish a report.

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