Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Yashyashvi Rasayan
The Supreme Court (SC) on June 22, 2020, directed Yashyashvi Rasayan Pvt Ltd to approach the NGT for modification of the tribunal’s order on the payment of compensation to displaced persons because of the explosion at its chemical factory at Dahej, Bharuch district, Gujarat.
On payment of Rs 15 lakh by way of interim compensation on account of death, the company had no objection, its counsel, Harish Salve said. It also did not object to the payment of Rs five lakh per person in case of grievous injuries and Rs 2.5 lakh towards injuries caused to persons hospitalised, as ordered by the NGT.
However, with respect to the displacement of 4,800 persons, the compensation of Rs 25,000 per person had been ordered by the NGT. The counsel said there might have been displacement of people only for a few hours and therefore, the compensation awarded was on a higher side.
The SC asked the NGT to “reassess the compensation, if necessary, in the light of the data to be placed before it.”
The apex court gave ten days time to make the payment but the disbursement of the amount to the displaced persons would remain stayed till a fresh decision was taken by the NGT.
Bihar river pollution
A status report was filed by the Bihar State Ganga River Conservation and Program Management Society (BGCMS) on the status of sewage treatment plants (STP) in the state for rivers including the Ganga, Punpun, Ramrekha, Sikrahna, Parmar, Sirsia, Sone, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Baghmati, Gandak, Mahananda and Kiul.
A total of 30 sewerage infrastructure projects sanctioned at a cost of Rs 5,328.61 crore are at various stages of implementation in towns including Patna (11 projects), Begusarai, Munger, Hajipur, Mokama, Sultanganj, Naugachia, Barh, Bhagalpur, Sonepur, Chhapra, Khagaria, Bakhtiyarpur, Maner, Fatuha, Danapur, Phulwarishariff, Buxar, Barahiya and Kahalgaon.
These projects will facilitate in treatment of 651.5 million litres per day of sewage through creation and rehabilitation of STPs, sewerage network, allied interception and diversion works. Also, two projects for in-situ drain treatment for Danapur Cantonment drain and Rajapur drain in Patna have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3.16 crore, the report said.
Coal dust emission
The inspection report filed by the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on emission of coal and cement dust by JP Cement factory’s power plant at Churk in the state’s Sonbhadra district informed the NGT that the primary and secondary coal crusher was not completely covered nor the material transfer points.
Also, at the time of inspection the coal / clinker conveyor belts and transfer points were found partially damaged.
Coal was being transported by railway wagon and the wagon tippler and truck unloading point were not fully covered. A water sprinkling system was provided at the coal unloading point but it was not found in operation during inspection.
The unit should strictly comply with the emission norms and ambient air quality standards as laid down under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and immediately take corrective measures for the prevention and control of fugitive and source emission, the report recommended.
Green area encroachment
The NGT on June 25 directed the district magistrate of Agra to file a report on green belt encroachment by dairy farms in and around Ram Ji Dham colony and Rishipuram Colony in Sikandra, Uttar Pradesh.
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