Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Effluent treatment plant in Vapi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 28, 2019 sought a compliance report from a joint committee on remedial measures taken for the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) in Vapi Industrial Cluster in Gujarat.
An application was filed regarding pollution of river Daman Ganga and drain Bill Khadi in District Valsad in Gujarat on account of discharge of effluents by industries and CETP in Vapi.
The tribunal had sought information about the units responsible for discharging effluents beyond norms in CETP inlet.
It was stated that the effluents by individual contributors were collected in a common drain and CETP has no opportunity to assess the inlet norms of the individual industries.
With respect to the past violations, “compensation as assessed by the committee in respect of individual units as well as CETP is liable to be recovered as interim compensation on ‘Polluter Pays’ principle,” the court said.
Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park
The NGT on August 28 asked Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to inspect the operation of Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district. It was alleged that the operations of the park was causing pollution in the area.
NGT had asked the SPCB, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Andhra government and National Coastal Zone Management Authority to file an affidavit on the matter, but only SPCB filed the affidavit.
The tribunal, while granting more time for others to file the affidavit, asked CPCB and SPCB to file a report on whether conditions of consent to operate has been complied with, whether the park is causing any pollution and the remedial measures taken.
Chromeni Steel lacks EC
The Chromeni Steel Pvt Ltd in the Kutch district of Gujarat did not take environment clearance before beginning the cold-rolled stainless steel manufacturing business, the NGT was told on August 27.
It was also alleged that the company was extracting groundwater without approval from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
Once the unit gets started, it would generate “hazardous, carcinogenic substances like hexa-valent chromium and other heavy metals which ought to have been assessed by way of an EIA study,” said the application filed by one Gajubha Jesar Jadeja.
The NGT directed for the constitution of a joint committee to look into the allegations. The committee would comprise of Gujarat’s Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Pollution Control Board, and District Collector/Magistrate of Kutch District and the Regional Director, CGWA.
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