Ngt

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

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

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 has directed authorities in West Bengal to demolish a hotel constructed in Sundarbans in violation of environmental norms. The tribunal was hearing a matter pertaining to the permissibility of a hotel construction in Sundarbans, for which the West Bengal State Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBCZMA) had raised objections. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel said Sundarbans was a critically vulnerable coastal area (CVCA) under the coastal regulation zone notifications and no construction was permissible in a CVCA. We uphold the stand of WBCZMA and declare the constructions made by the project proponent to be illegal. A joint committee of WBSCZMA, district magistrate and senior superintendent of police (SSP) may ensure the demolition of illegal constructions and restoration of the area within three months from today, the bench also comprising Justices Sudhir Agarwal and B Amit Sthalekar along with expert member A Senthil Vel said. The bench noted th

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the authorities in Rajasthan to address the grievance regarding the proposed three-day Sambhar festival adversely impacting migratory birds and their natural habitat. The tribunal also directed the authorities, including the Rajasthan chief secretary, to shift the festival's location if such a detrimental effect is found. The green panel was hearing a petition that alleged that the festival's activities, including kite flying, paragliding and motorcycle expedition, would "adversely affect migratory birds and natural habitat of the lake which is a Ramsar site, particularly on account of the use of loudspeakers". The festival is scheduled to take place at Sambhar Lake near Jaipur from February 17 to 19. "We find it necessary to direct the chief secretary, Rajasthan, to address the grievance in coordination with State Wetland Authority, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), district magistrate, Jaipur, and integrated region

The National Green Tribunal on Monday formed a high-level committee to deal with the issue of pollution in Yamuna river. A bench comprising its chairperson Justice A K Goel said substantial work remains unexecuted in terms of identified steps for the rejuvenation of Yamuna, and there is still a huge gap between the generation of sewage and available treatment facilities. The bench also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi along with expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad said the earlier directions of the tribunal regarding pollution of river Yamuna were not complied with. "The estimated gap is said to be 194.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage, interception and diversion of about 147 drains (connected to Najafgarh and Shahdra drains) and other small drains joining bigger drains remains (pending) and wastewater from 1,799 unauthorized colonies and 630 JJ clusters is reportedly going into the Yamuna," the bench said. Other ...

The National Green Tribunal has extended the stay on a Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change notification modifying the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions for certain construction projects. According to the notification dated November 14, 2018, the union government delegated the power to ensure compliance with environmental conditions to local bodies, including municipalities, development authorities and district panchayats, in respect of building or construction projects having built-up area from 20,000 square metres to 50,000 sq. metres. The notification also provided these local bodies with the power for according building permission and granting occupation or completion certificate with respect to industrial sheds, hospitals and educational institutions (including hostels) having built-up areas of more than 20,000 sq. metres to 1,50,000 sq. metres. The tribunal was hearing a petition which said the modified EIA regime, where the appraisal of ...

Rs 200 crores be utilized for setting up solid waste processing facilities, remediation of legacy waste and setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and FSSTPs so there remains no gap, it added

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the formation of a committee to verify the factual position and ensure remedial action regarding allegations of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) violating environmental norms while constructing a highway from the Mukarba chowk to the Singhu border here. A bench of Chairperson A K Goel noted that according to the petition, the NHAI had failed to comply with environmental obligations while constructing the eight-lane highway. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members Afroz Ahmad and A Senthil Vel, noted that the petition alleges that though the NHAI has claimed that it has planted 1,760 trees, the said plantation was around 20 km away from the location where trees were felled because of the project. According to the petition, there was non-compliance of the provisions of the Green Highway (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy, 2015 and the secretary

The NGT has also asked the officials of the Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department to appear before it on November 28 along with the officials of the MPCB

The National Green Tribunal has directed the authorities to seal all illegal commercial borewells in Noida. The tribunal has also directed the builders or project proponents to pay interim compensation -- at least 0.5% of their project cost. The green panel was hearing a petition regarding the illegal extraction of groundwater by 40 builders in Noida. The petition alleged that the authorities concerned had failed to prevent illegal commercial extraction of groundwater, resulting in its depletion. A bench of Chairperson AK Goel said the unregulated extraction of groundwater was detrimental to the environment and violated directions of the Supreme Court. The bench, also comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, said regulation on groundwater extraction was necessary for conservation and to ensure adequate replenishment. The bench noted that according to the report of a joint committee comprising the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Uttar Pradesh

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board to expeditiously close all tyre pyrolysis units (TPUs) functioning without following environment norms. Pyrolysis is the method of recycling old tyres through thermochemical treatment under high temperature to produce industrial oil and other matters. A bench of Chairperson Justice AK Goel said gaps remained with regard to action taken against non-compliant units and units against whom action was taken to close them till compliance. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Kumar Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, said the gaps required "to be bridged at the earliest in the interest of the rule of law, environment and good governance". The bench said the units were required to follow zero-liquid and zero-emission norms. It added that instead of transporting the carbon produced during the pyrolysis process to landfills, the material could be utilised in the cement industry. "According

Previous government had banned earthwork for project, following an order by Pune Bench of NGT