Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Encroachment in Jhinjharia stream
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on June 10, 2020 directed a joint committee to look into pollution of Jhinjharia stream with its outfall into Dhobia talab, a lake in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag.
It has been alleged that the stream, about five kilometres in length and 30 feet in width, is on the verge of extinction due to unauthorised and illegal constructions. The Dhobia talab, originally 12 acres in size, has shrunk to five-six acres.
River Konar, the main source of water for the Hazaribagh town, gets polluted due to the dirty water of the Jhinjaria stream. The complainant alleged that municipal solid waste as well as construction waste was being disposed of into Dhobia talab and Jhinhjaria stream.
The tribunal prohibited further construction in the area leading to encroachment of the water body and the stream. It also warned against disposing solid waste and discharging sewage in the water bodies. Status quo should be maintained strictly, the green body warned.
Pollution in Malegaon
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) filed its report on pollution by industries involved in plastic lumps (gitti), plastic granules, plastic recycling, yarn dyeing, power loom and others in Malegaon. This was in pursuance to the January 21, 2020 NGT order.
To ensure effective implementation of directions of closure, Malegaon Municipal Corporation, additional district collector, additional superintendent of police, sub-regional officer, MPCB, Nashik and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd had initiated joint action and ensured permanent disconnection of water and electricity supply; sealing of sizing and plastic industries in the non-conforming zone according to city development plan.
It also initiated action for non-compliance of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016.
With respect to relocation of plastic related units, sizing units, yarn dyeing units, the Malegaon Municipal Corporation submitted a plan. The MPCB had issued directions of environment compensation to 96 plastic gitty manufacturing units and seven sizing units, directing them to deposit Rs 1 lakh for operating without consent and not providing air pollution control devices.
Pollution in Satluj river
Disposal of dead animal carcasses in Hadda Roddi, close to river Satluj in Punjab’s Ladhowal, was responsible for the foul smell and deteriorating the water quality of the river, according to action-taken report from the office of the deputy commissioner, Ludhiana.
To address the problem, the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana issued directions to the municipal corporation to expedite the completion of modern and scientific carcass utilisation plant.
The district development and panchayat officer, Ludhiana, has been asked to look for alternate sites for disposing of the remains of the dead animals till the completion of the plant. The Punjab Pollution Control Board has been asked to keep a regular vigil at the site of Hadda Roddi.
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