Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (May 9, 2023)

Sand mining in Yamuna

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued an order prohibiting mining by Star Mines on the banks of the Yamuna in Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh. The order, dated May 8, 2023, came in the wake of a joint committee report filed before the tribunal.

Star Mines was permitted to mine up to a depth of three metres. But, a replenishment study said the company could mine upto1.95 metres in height and the expected life of mine could be 1.35 years, the report pointed out.

Mining has already been done up to a depth of three metres and the maximum period of 1.35 years is over. Thus, no further mining can be done without a fresh appraisal, the report told NGT.

Illegal constructions near Ganga

The NGT directed a joint panel to file a report on the alleged illegal constructions leading to the pollution of the Ganga near Haridwar, Uttrakhand. The report must be filed at the earliest and coercive measures will be taken in case of default, the NGT warned on May 8.

The matter has been listed for further consideration on July 31, 2023.

The tribunal had sought a report from the joint committee of the Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board, National Mission for Clean Ganga and the district magistrate of Haridwar on March 3, 2023. However, the authorities did not file any report so far.

Coliform levels high in Chande Baba Talab  

A drain carrying sewage from nearby areas has been discharging untreated waste into Chande Baba Talab in Lucknow, stated the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in its report filed before the NGT on May 8.

A sample analysis by the SPCB found the total coliform and faecal coliform values to be high. The dissolved oxygen was nil, which means the water body is nearly dead, with water unsuitable for consumption.

“The untreated sewage of the locality is directly meeting the Chande Baba Talab which is deteriorating the water quality of the talab,” the report to the NGT said.

Some 1,000 saplings of different species would be planted along with iron tree guards near the pond, the divisional forest officer, Awadh Van Prabhag, Lucknow, had informed the NGT on May 1, 2023. Nearly 350 saplings have been planted to date and the remaining work is in progress.

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