Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Monitoring mechanism for laboratories
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 14, 2019 directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to furnish a list of private laboratories and analysts recognised by it, monitoring mechanism about their functioning as well as the result of such monitoring.
The order came in the wake of an application filed by the non-profit, Social Action for Forest and Environment or SAFE over the effectiveness of the monitoring regime to ensure that accredited laboratories furnish credible reports with regard to analysis of air, water and other samples.
According to the applicant, there were large scale grievances against authenticity of reports furnished by the laboratories which were not being properly monitored.
A report filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had earned the displeasure of the NGT, as it was silent on the functioning of the laboratories and the level of accuracy of the reports furnished by such laboratories.
Paper industry pollution in Moradabad
The NGT on November 13 directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to stop the extraction of groundwater by Genus Paper and Board, Agwanpur, Moradabad district and take action to ensure the compliance of the Hazardous Waste Rules, 2016 and other environmental norms in accordance with law.
The NGT was hearing a complaint about the illegal withdrawal of groundwater and illegal discharge of effluents in the Ganges and its tributaries by the paper industry. The complaint also highlighted the emissions of gases in the environment and illegal expansion of the unit.
Jammu & Kashmir High Court expansion
The NGT on November 13 directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Jammu & Kashmir to furnish a factual and action-taken report on the matter of expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court premises by using forest land without following the due process of law.
Pollution by distillery unit in Bijnor
The NGT on November 13 directed the UPPCB and the district magistrate of Bijnor to look into the operation of a distillery unit's boilers, operated by M/s Dhampur Sugar Mills. The operations were polluting and affecting the health of the students of a school located in the vicinity, according to a complaint.
The NGT also asked the UPPCB and the district magistrate to take action in accordance with law and furnish a factual and action taken report in the matter within one month.
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