Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Railway stations
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed a joint team comprising of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and concerned state pollution control boards / pollution control committees to evaluate the performance of major railway stations, both in terms of implementation of action plans and compliance to the provisions of the Water Act, Air Act and Environmental Protection Act.
The team also had to check the stations’ compliance regarding Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, Hazardous and other Waste Rules, 2016, Bio-Medical Waste Rules, 2016 as well as Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016.
Teams comprising the CPCB and SPCBs / PCCs, inspected 36 railway stations to evaluate their environmental performance during February-March, 2020.
The CPCB received correspondence from railway authorities seeking information regarding categorisation of railway stations into red / orange / green categories for the purpose of obtaining consents from SPCBs / PCCs.
Information related to pollution potential of railway stations was assessed by an expert committee of CPCB and railway stations, which were categorised into red / orange / green categories.
All this information was compiled by the CPCB in a report in compliance of the NGT order.
E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016
The CPCB filed a report to the NGT on the status of the implementation of an action plan for the enforcement of E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016.
The report mentioned that the SPCBs / PCCs had started implementing the action plan. A national level inventory on generation of e-waste had been prepared for the financial year 2017-18 and 2018-19.
A draft mechanism for levying environmental compensation (EC) charges for the violation of e-waste rules had been worked out, which would be finalised soon.
The CPCB would take actions including levying of EC charges after examination of the reports as submitted by SPCBs / PCCs.
Sugar mill
The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) submitted its action taken report to the NGT on the matter of discharge of wastewater from a sugar mill (RBNS Sugar Mill Ltd) into agricultural land in Laksar, Haridwar district.
An inspection was carried out by the Regional Officer of UKPCB on February 20. According to the inspection report, the sugar mill’s effluent treatment plant was in operation and the sample analysis report was according to norms as well as the stack monitoring report. The unit was reusing treated water in the cooling process.
Biodiesel plant
The NGT on July 15 directed that the closure directions issued by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) against Washwell biodiesel plant in Atun village of Bhilwara district should remain in place till environmental norms are complied with and compensation is recovered.
The RSPCB had filed its report on the plant, in reference to its alleged illegal operation without a no objection certificate and its causing pollution in the area.
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