Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal through the week
Steps to control air pollution in Delhi
The Supreme Court (SC) on November 15, 2019 directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to conduct random checking of three-wheelers as well as vehicles used by corporations for the kind of fuel being used.
This came in response to the complaint that some vehicles are using kerosene in Delhi-NCR. The court also directed that the 13 hot spots identified in Delhi be cleared of pollutants within a week.
The chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi have to remain present on November 25, 2019, the next date of hearing to ensure that necessary steps are taken to stop stubble burning.
Restoration of forest area in Mandi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 18 directed the district forest officer of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh to recover an amount of Rs 5 lakh from the persons responsible for the destruction of Khasra No. 494, a forest land.
The amount includes the expenditure incurred for the purpose of restoration and environmental compensation, and is to be collected within a period of two weeks.
A report submitted by the district forest officer informed the NGT that restoration work of the forest area had been completed after spending of Rs 2, 22,572.
Zigzag technology for brick fields in West Bengal
The NGT on November 18 directed the West Bengal Pollution Control Board to “ensure efficacious and expeditious action” and permit the brick fields which had adopted the zigzag technology subject to grant of consent, to operate.
The ones which were in the process of implementation should not be allowed to operate until the new technology has been installed.
Out of 4,506 brick fields operating in the state, only 2027 have adopted the technology.
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