National Green Tribunal

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) stayed the Rs 72,000 crore Great Nicobar Development Plan, which includes the project for building a trans-shipment hub

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refrained from levying environmental compensation on the Union Territory of Ladakh for improper management of solid and liquid waste, after noting the area's ground situation and the statement of the UT's chief secretary that adequate funds will be made available for handling the waste. The NGT is monitoring compliance with Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and other environmental issues by states and Union territories. A bench of chairperson Justice A K Goel said it was the Union territory's constitutional responsibility and absolute liability to provide a pollution-free environment, which was a part of the right to life, besides a basic human right, and that the UT had to arrange necessary funds from contributors or others. The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said lack of funds or absence of other resources such as sites for waste management cannot be a plea to deny such

Panel to study 'unanswered deficiencies', stays further development for 2 months

The National Green Tribunal has constituted a high-powered committee to re-examine the environmental clearance granted to Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIDCO) for the multi-component mega project in the Great Nicobar Island. Along with the development of an international container transhipment terminal, the project also involves the development of a military-civil, dual-use airport, a gas, diesel, and solar-based power plant, and a township. The NGT was hearing appeals against forest clearance and environmental clearance provided to the project proponent (PP) ANIDCO. Earlier on January 11, it had sought a response from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the PP. A bench of chairperson Justice A K Goel along with judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi said there was a need for adequate studies on the adverse impact on coral reefs, mangroves, turtle ...

The committee was given instructions to convene within a week, interact with relevant stakeholders and authorities, and develop and implement an action plan based on the situation's actual facts

There is a serious failure of Jharkhand in preventing the continued "environmental lawlessness", the National Green Tribunal observed while hearing petitions regarding alleged violations of environmental norms by quarrying and crushing units in the Rajmahal hills. The green panel also directed the chief secretary to personally monitor compliance as there was "much to be desired in remedial action against gross continuing violations in spite of categorical orders". The tribunal was hearing petitions that claimed that stone-crushing and mining companies in the Rajmahal hills of Sahebganj district were indulging in indiscriminate mining without regard for environmental norms. The hills are blown up, huge dust is generated and air and water pollution is caused -- to the detriment of the environment and public health -- during the process, the petitions alleged. A bench of Chairperson Justice AK Goel said despite several orders -- including prohibiting illegal mining and non-compliant .

The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to verify the allegations of severe air pollution in and around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. The NGT was hearing a plea which claimed that air pollution was jeopardising the health of the indoor as well as OPD patients, doctors and other staffers of AIIMS-Delhi. The petition claimed statutory and administrative authorities failed to control air pollution around AIIMS. "We are satisfied that the matter needs consideration and facts need to be verified by an independent expert committee... Accordingly, we constitute a seven-member joint committee to be headed by the member secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), deputy commissioner of police (Traffic), area divisional or district forest officer (DFO) and the municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD)," a bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice A K Goel said. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Ve

The National Green Tribunal has sought a factual report from a panel over allegations that the Tent City project in Varanasi was flouting environmental norms. The NGT was hearing a petition alleging the project on a 100-acre area on the riverbed of the Ganga, was detrimental to the flora and fauna and also resulted in untreated sewage going directly into the river. The Tent City, developed on the banks of the Ganga opposite the famed ghats of the holy city, aims to tap the tourism potential of the region and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January. A bench comprising chairperson Justice A K Goel said the allegations, if true, depicted serious violations of environmental norms. But before passing any order, it was necessary to seek a factual report from a seven-member joint committee of the national mission for clean Ganga (NMCG), Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Chief Wild Life Warden and Irrigation

Kochi Mayor A Anil Kumar on Saturday said that the Civic body will challenge the National Green Tribunal order which awarded Rs 100 crores in environmental compensation against Kochi Municipal Corporation for alleged continuing neglect of its duties resulting in a fire at a waste dump site in Kochi."Kochi Corporation will challenge the NGT order. An appeal will be filed in consultation with legal experts. We will look at all possible legal avenues," said Kochi Mayor M Anil Kumar.Calling for a vigilance inquiry & 3-pronged inquiry into the Brahmapuram fire incident, Kumar said, "The wrongdoers, if any, will naturally be found out. The entire cost of extinguishing the fire at Brahmapuram was borne by Corporation. The amount will be told in the coming days".The Tribunal stated that, according to a media report, Kochi city was choked on account of a fire at the waste dump site on March 2, 2023, which led to a crisis situation. A warning was issued to the residents to stay indoors ...

NGT has directed the Kochi Municipal Corporation to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore for the damage to the environment because of its failure to handle solid waste.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a seven-member joint committee to verify facts regarding air pollution around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, which jeopardizes the health of indoor as well as OPD patients and doctors and other staff of AIIMS.The bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in an order passed on March 17, 2023, stated, "We are satisfied that the matter needs consideration. Facts need to be verified by an independent expert committee to consider further order.""Accordingly, we constitute a seven-member joint Committee to be headed by Member Secretary, CPCB with other members being DCP (Traffic), area DFO, MCD, DPCC and Director-AIIMS or his nominee and a nominee of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital," said the Tribunal."The Committee may consider the allegations noted, including traffic/parking status and deliberate upon plan for mitigation measures to control air pollution in the area such as ...

NGT has awarded Rs.100 crores in environmental compensation against Kochi Municipal Corporation for alleged continuing neglect of its duties resulting in a fire at a waste dump site in Kochi

NGT has sought a factual report from a panel on alleged illegal extraction of groundwater by Mitsui Kingzoku Components India Private Ltd. in the industrial town of Bawal in Rewari district of Haryana

The National Green Tribunal has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to pay a compensation of Rs 2 crore for failing to comply with environmental norms while constructing an eight-lane highway from Mukarba Chowk to Singhu border in Delhi. The tribunal was hearing a petition claiming the generation of dust because of the non-sprinkling of water at village Khampur and other stretches, and not following the principles of compensatory afforestation and non-compliance with the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel noted that the tribunal in November last year had sought a factual report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the director of the national capital's environment department. The bench also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, along with expert member A Senthil Vel, said the joint committee had submitted its report,

The National Green Tribunal has sought a factual report from a panel on alleged illegal extraction of groundwater by Mitsui Kingzoku Components India Pvt Ltd in the industrial town of Bawal in Rewari District of Haryana. The NGT was hearing a petition claiming the project proponent (PP) was violating the conditions of the Central Ground Water Authority's (CGWA's) no objection certificate (NOC) specifying the quantity of groundwater to be extracted and that the CGWA had already categorised the area as 'over exploited'. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel noted that according to the petition, the tribunal's earlier order in November last year directing the CGWA to take remedial action against non-compliance by the PP, including recovery of compensation equal to 0.5% of the project cost, was not followed. The bench, also comprising Judicial Members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi along with Expert Member A Senthil Vel said, "We find it necessary to require a ...

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a highway construction company to pay Rs 55.47 crore for causing environmental damage by illegally excavating stone, sand and murram for its projects in the Nashik and Hingoli districts of Maharashtra. In two separate orders on February 22, NGT's western zone bench in Pune directed Rajendrasinh Bhamboo Infra Private Limited to pay Rs 36.35 crore and Rs 19.12 crore to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board within a month. The detailed orders were made available recently. We find that since the activity of mining has been conducted by the project proponent (Rajendrasinh Bhamboo Infra) without taking prior environmental clearance, the same is treated to be violation which impacts the environment adversely, said the green tribunal in one of its orders. One Dattatraya Phalke had filed pleas with the tribunal saying that the company be blacklisted for having repeatedly violated environmental norms for its commercial benefits. The tribunal h

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Registrar of Jannayak Chandrashekhar University not to carry out any further construction on any part of land falling within the Eco Sensitive Zone

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) to pay a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the heirs of two workers who died due to a blast on its premises in Patralapli village in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district on June 10, 2020. The tribunal has also directed JSPL to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to two workers who suffered burn injuries in the incident and observed that the company did not show the "concern" that was expected from a responsible business entity. The NGT had initiated suo-motu proceedings in the matter on the basis of a media report. According to police, the blast had occurred when the workers were cutting an old diesel tank with a gas cutter at a scrap yard. "The heirs of the deceased will be entitled to an amount of Rs 20 lakh each and the injured will be entitled to Rs 5 lakh each, payable by JSPL within a month. In default of payment, the district magistrate may take coercive measures for recovery, including ...

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a panel to obtain a factual report on a petition alleging illegal encroachments and constructions near a pond in the Vasant Kunj area here. According to the petition, the pond, adjacent to Kishangarh village, contributes to the waters of a larger lake in the nearby Smriti Van DDA park and the overall wetland ecosystem of the area, but authorities are not taking action despite illegal constructions. A bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said a substantial question relating to the environment has arisen but before taking any action, it is appropriate to obtain a factual report. "We constitute a joint committee comprising the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the district magistrate, South Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Wetland Authority, which shall submit a report within two months," the bench said. It said the DM will be the nodal agency for coordinat

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a panel to look into a petition, which claims that acid is being illegally manufactured in an Old Delhi neighbourhood in Central district. The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by a resident of Gali Kuan Wali, Lal Darwaza, Sirki Walan, which says acid is being illegally manufactured in the locality. The petition says dangerous fumes are being released as a result of the illegal acid manufacturing, causing damage to the environment and affecting the health of the locals. "In our view, the grievance at the first instance can be looked into and examined by the local authorities, for the purpose whereof, we constitute a joint committee comprising the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the deputy commissioner of police (north) and the district magistrate (north)," a bench comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said. It added that the DM would be the nodal agency for coordination and ...