Environmental Law
Green Activists Demand Withdrawal Of Proposed EIA Notification 2020; Says 'It Encourages Violations To Continue Undeterred'
Several groups of environmental activists have opposed the latest Environmental Impact Assessment draft notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as going against India's stance to protect biodiversity, and against the agreements made in the Paris Climate Accord. Several experts, think tanks and environmental activists have sent objections and...
Assam Oil Well Fire: NGT Directs Oil India To Deposit Rs 25 Crores; Constitutes Committee For Probe [Read Order]
The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed Government-owned Oil India Limited (OIL), to deposit a sum of Rs. 25 Crores with the District Magistrate, Tinsukia District, Assam, in connection to a massive fire which exploded from OIL's Baghjan well. "In view of the prima facie case made out against OIL on the extent of damage caused to the environment and biodiversity, damage to...
Plea In NGT For Cancellation Of License Of Reliance Owned Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project, For Dumping Fly Ash In Rihand Reservoir [Read Petition]
Supreme Court Advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey has moved the NGT seeking cancellation of license of Reliance owned Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project, for deliberately throwing industrial garbage in the Rihand Reservoir, the only source of drinking water for people living in MP's Singrauli and UP's Sonebhadra districts. The Petitioner had earlier approached the Tribunal seeking implementation...
NGT Holds Karnataka Govt Liable For Causing Damage To Environment Directs To Pay Compensation Of Rs 10 Lakh [Read Order]
Holding the Karnataka State Government and the Municipal Council Bommasandra, liable for causing damage to the environment by not taking steps to prevent flow of untreated sewage into the Kithiganahalli lake. The National Green Tribunal has directed them to pay an interim, ad-hoc compensation of Rs 15. A bench of Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said; "There is huge damage by...
Karnataka HC Stays Further Steps On Decision To Divert Forest Land For Hubbali-Ankola Railway Line
Observing that "This is a classical case of how board is influenced," the Karnataka High Court on Thursday by way of interim relief directed that no further steps shall be taken on the decision taken by the State Board for Wildlife to allow diversion of 595.64 hectares of forest land for constructing railway line between Hubballi and Ankola. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka...
'A City Doesn't Become Smart City By Occupying Parks': Karnataka HC Prohibits Constructions In Nehru Maidan at Mangalore
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed that there will be a complete prohibition on construction of any building or structure inside the Nehru Maidan at Mangalore.The Court observed "don't convert a city into smart city by occupying parks".It added :"A judicial notice will have to be taken that open spaces like parks and playgrounds are destroyed over time. Citizens have the...
NGT Registers Suo Motu Case Over Pregnant Elephant Death Issue [Read Order]
The National Green Tribunal has registered a suo motu case regarding the incident of a pregnant elephant allegedly killed in Silent Valley Forest in Kerala. The news that a pregnant wild elephant in Silent Valley Forest had fallen victim to an act of human act of using explosive substance kept in a Pineapple which was consumed inadvertently by it had generated huge outrage. The...
World Environment Day – Isn't Every Time A #timefornature?
While COVID-19 has proliferated across all parts of the world, the present times are unprecedented in India as it reports record spike in cases and simultaneously grapples with cyclones, locust attacks, floods and earthquakes. Today, we are posed with the greatest humanitarian crisis and if we further neglect our nature and environment, it could be the death knell for biodiversity and,...
[Vizag Tragedy] NGT Says It Has The Power To Take 'Suo Motu 'Cognizance Against Environment Law Defaulters [Read Order]
The National Green Tribunal on Monday held that it has the power and jurisdiction to institute suo moto proceedings against environment law defaulters and it thus held that the orders passed by the Tribunal against South Korean company LG Polymers in a suo moto case registered against the fateful incident of chemical gas leak at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh, are not illegal. The...
Karnataka HC To State How Will You Ensure Lakes Are Clean Post Lockdown [Read Order]
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the state government and asked about the steps it will take to ensure that Bellandur, Varthur lakes and Vrushabati river are kept clean as they stand today due to reduce pollution in view of the lockdown. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar gave the direction whe hearing a public...
Vizag Gas Leak : SC Refuses To Issue Notice On LG Polymer's Challenge Against NGT Constituting Committee
The Supreme Court refused to issue notice on a plea filed by LG Polymers against the order passed by NGT which directed the South Korean company to pay 50 crores and constituted a fact-finding committee.The apex court asked the company to raise questions regarding jurisdiction of the NGT before the Tribunal itself.The following Order was passed by the Bench comprising Justices U U Lalit, Mohan...
Vizag Gas Leak: 'Strict Liability' Or 'Absolute Liability'?
On Friday, the National Green Tribunal ordered LG Polymers to deposit Rs. 50 Crores with the District Magistrate, Vishakhapatnam, in connection to a major leak of Styrene gas from its polymer plant situated in RR Venkatapuram village.However, the NGT observed in the order that the situation attracted the principle of "strict liability"."Leakage of hazardous gas at such a scale...