Environment

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 24, 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: Friday 24 May 2019

NGT seeks probe into Khurda land use

Illegal and unauthorised use of 568.039 acres of revenue forest land (Jungle II Kisam) in khata No. 1427, Jaidev Vihar mouja, Bhubaneswar tehshil, Khurda district of Odisha for non-forestry purpose without obtaining any clearance from the forest department under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 came up for hearing before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 20, 2019.

The tribunal directed the district collector and divisional forest officer (DFO) to consider the allegations in the petition and conduct an inspection of the area in question and ascertain the genuineness of the allegation made and if there is any infraction of any of the provision of statutes, they are at liberty to take action and submit a factual and action taken report in this regard within a period of two months. The DFO will act as the nodal agency.

Indrayani river: Construction of STP challenged 

An application against the construction of a sewage treatment plant by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corp (PCMC), Pune in the prohibited blue line zone of Indrayani river was heard by the NGT on May 22, 2019. The tribunal directed submission of a report on the matter by a joint committee comprising PCMC, Pune, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Pune Irrigation Division within one month.

NGT seeks report on Odisha brick kilns

The NGT on May 21, 2019 directed the Odisha State Pollution Control Board to file an affidavit, furnishing an updated action-taken report against brick kilns not adhering to environmental norms.

The case, which was filed by Bishnu Prasad Mishro, last came up for hearing on November 24, 2017, in which steps taken in respect of 604 non-compliant brick kilns apart from the 640 which had been already identified was called for. The State PCB had sought time then to file an affidavit containing the information in this regard. But the court found the affidavits filed by the state PCB inadequate. 

Effect of purse seine nets for fishing

The use of purse seine and mini purse seine nets in the course of fishing affect the marine life as well as environment-friendly fishing by small fishermen. The use of such gear by mechanised fishing vessels were prohibited by notifications like the Maharashtra Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1981; but the prohibitions were never implemented.

The issue was raised in an application filed by Sindhudurg Jilla Shramajivi Rapan Machchimar Sangh before the NGT on 22 May, 2019. It directed the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Maharashtra to furnish a report about status of compliance of the notifications within one month.

K2 Metals discharge chemical waste water in open 

The discharge of hazardous chemical waste water in open spaces and the unscientific storage of hazardous waste by K2 Metals Pvt Ltd has led to percolation of waste in the ground, leading to groundwater pollution and soil infertility: This was alleged by Vikas Arun Bhor, who said it has affected his well water to an extent that it cannot be used.

The NGT on May 22, 2019 gave directions to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's Pune regional office to submit a report on the factual aspects and mentioning the action taken if any within a period of one month and the inspection should be conducted at the earliest, before the onset of monsoon.

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