Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (October 10, 2022)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (October 10, 2022)

Bhalswa landfill: Delhi's action plan to prevent fires

The Delhi government presented a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) October 10, 2022 on the status of waste management at the Bhalswa dumpsite, where a massive fire broke out this April.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been undertaking biomining and bioremediation of legacy waste at the landfill, the report stated. It is similar to the model implemented by the Indore Municipal Corporation. 

A plan has been prepared to install CCTV cameras all around the landfill to avoid unauthorised access, the state wrote. An area has been earmarked for dumping of fresh garbage, since fires generally occur in these sites.

At present, 18 trommel machines are processing legacy waste at the site. Till September 29, 2022, 2.6 million tonnes of legacy waste has been processed, according to the report. 

An integrated tender has been floated for biomining and disposal of 3 million tonnes of legacy waste from Bhalswa dumpsite. The bid was opened on September 23, 2022.

As soon as the proposed waste-to-energy plant at Narela-Bawana starts to function, fresh municipal solid waste will be stopped from dumping at Bhalswa dumpsite, the state government mentioned in the report. 

Rejuvenating Chandapura lake

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has engaged RV College of Engineering, Bangalore to conduct an environmental audit of all industries in the catchment area of Chandapura lake, KSPCB told NGT. 

The KSPCB has not accorded permission to any industry having captive effluent treatment plant to discharge its effluents into the common effluent treatment plant (CETP), it mentioned.

Samples will be collected from drains leading to Chandapura lake for the forensic analysis and tracing pollutant studies.

As a permanent solution to keep the lake contamination-free, the detailed project report for implementation of the underground drainage system of Hebbagodi City Municipal Council of around Rs 153 crore and for Bommasandra Town Municipal Council of around Rs 109 crore have been submitted to the government for consideration.

This action plan for the rejuvenation of Chandrapura lake was part of the KSPCB report in response to an NGT order dated March 29, 2022.

Bank guarantee sought from Shah Sponge Iron & Power

The Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) directed Shah Sponge Iron and Power Ltd in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand to submit a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh for non-compliances in their operations.

The petitioner Jairam Hansda had said that the company is causing water pollution, air pollution and also adversely affecting the biodiversity of the area and health of nearby residents. 

NGT directed the constitution of a joint committee, which inspected the unit April 18, 2022. The non-compliances reported by the joint committee during the inspection were:

  • Exceedance of SOx, NOx, however PM value was found within the prescribed limit.
  • Leakages from the kiln feeding and discharge to the cooler
  • Leakages from the kiln emergency cap
  • Sufficient green belt not developed as per the Central Pollution Control Board norms

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