Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Submit report on pollution mitigation measures around IGI airport: NGT
The Airport Authority of India and the Delhi International Airport Limited on May 21, 2019 were directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to file an action taken report within one month on mitigating measures to reduce noise pollution around Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
The measures include an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) report on construction of sound barriers and provision of a green belt around the boundary wall of the IGI airport.
An advisory should be issued to all the airlines landing at the IGI airport runway and the domestic airport to reduce noise levels. Further, the coaches, buses and other vehicles plying at the airport should be CNG; while non-CNG buses and other vehicles plying at the airport should be converted to CNG within six months.
The tribunal was hearing a plea, filed by the Society for Protection of Culture, Heritage, Environment, Traditions and Promotion of National Awareness, seeking enforcement of its earlier order dated 24.11.2017.
Hyderabad’s Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla lake encroachment removed
Dumping of waste and encroachment of Bum-Rukn-ud-Dowla — a historic heritage water body of around 104 acres, opposite National Police Academy in Shivrampally, Hyderabad —came up for hearing before the NGT on May 21, 2019.
The report furnished by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) states that encroachments have been removed and demarcation of the boundary of the lake has been done. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is planning treatment and remediation in consultation with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
In view of the above, the NGT directed that further steps be taken and a report be furnished by the secretary, urban development department, Telangana, within two months.
Punjabi Bagh banquet halls violating environment norms
A report on illegal running of banquet halls in Punjabi Bagh area of Delhi was submitted before the NGT on May 21, 2019 by a joint committee comprising members of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), district magistrate (Punjabi Bagh) and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
It stated that only eight banquet halls were inspected, though there are many others in the area. Further, these could not produce building plans/maps and none of them had authorised parking arrangements. All had borewells but could not produce permission letters; other deficiencies were also mentioned.
The NGT had earlier directed for a joint inspection by the CPCB and the DPCC, and a report be submitted on the distance of the banquet halls from the road as per the Master Plan, along with the compensation, parking arrangements and other aspects.
Monitor compliance of environmental norms by Ferro Build Hards: NGT
The NGT on May 21, 2019 directed that the CPCB and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) submit a joint report on the status of compliance of environmental norms by Ferro Build Hards, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, particularly in view of the fact that it is located in the flood plains of river Yamuna and in the vicinity of habitation.
The UPPCB had justified the authorisation on the ground that very few common bio-medical waste treatment facilities are available in the area.
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