NGT Directs UP Additional Chief Secretary To State Steps Taken Relating To Expansion Of Agra's Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

The National Green Tribunal (Principal Bench), directed Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Forest and Climate Change to state steps taken in expansion of Agra's Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.Taking note of the affidavit filed by the ACS, A bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. A. Afroz Ahmad said that, “Let further action taken...

Ground Water Contamination| NGT Raps Punjab PCB, NEERI For Its Failure Take Immediate Measures In Sangrur, Says Problem 'So Serious', Summons Top Officials

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has summoned the Director, NEERI and Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to explain the delay in filing the status report and what immediate measures can be taken to resolve the problem of groundwater contamination in Punjab's Sangrur.A bench of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal, Dr. A....

Supreme Court Criticises NGT's Trend Of Passing Ex-Parte Orders Imposing Penalties, Says Tribunal Must Act With 'Procedural Integrity'

Recently, the Supreme Court voiced its discontent with the National Green Tribunal's practice of passing ex parte orders and imposing damages. The judgment, authored by Justice PS Narasimha, has marked that such unilateral decision-making 'has regrettably become a prevailing norm.' “The National Green Tribunal's recurrent engagement in unilateral decision making, provisioning ex...

E-Rickshaws To Be Provided In Matheran Only For Present Hand Cart Pullers: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (on January 10) clarified that E-Rickshaws, if permitted, in the city of Matheran would be only for present hand cart pullers. This was to compensate them on account of their loss of employment. The Court further clarified that there should also be a restriction on the number of E-rickshaws permitted in Matheran. The Division Bench of Justices B.R Gavai and...

Supreme Court Asks CEC To Examine Issues Related To Mining In Aravali Hills

The Supreme Court (on January 10), prima facie, opined that if the State of Rajasthan believes that the mining activities in the Aravali Range pose a threat to the environment, the State can also prevent mining activities in the Aravalli Range. “We, prima facie, feel that if the State is of the view that the mining activities in the Aravali Range is also detrimental to the...

Environmental Norm Violation Allegations At CM Arvind Kejriwal's Official Residence: NGT Imposes Cost On Delhi Govt, PWD For Delaying Response

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 on Delhi's Public Welfare Department (PWD) and Delhi government for their failure in filing the response in the matter of the alleged environmental violation at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence.It also imposed a cost of Rs.15,000 on Forest Department for filing an "incomplete report."Whiled...

Frame Policy To Phase Out Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicles & Replace Them With BS-VI Vehicles : Supreme Court Directs Centre

The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 11) directed that the Union of India should formulate a policy of phasing out heavy-duty diesel vehicles and replacing them with BS VI vehicles. The policy should be framed within a period of six months from today.The Court asked the Union to examine the recommendations made by the Environment Pollution(Prevention and Control) Authority, which has been...

NGT Not Supposed To Apply Strict Rigours Of CPC When Citizen Approaches With Grievance : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (on January 04) expressed dissatisfaction with the NGT's approach while dismissing an application. The application alleged that a waterbody/pond was being filled up. However, the NGT summarily dismissed the same without holding any inquiry. The Tribunal's findings were based only on certain photographs. Discontent with the same, the Apex Court observed that when...

Supreme Court Asks Central Pollution Control Board To Examine Issue Of Pollution By Stone Crushing Units, Calls For Report

In an appeal by Ministry of Environment, the Supreme Court has called for a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the issue of pollution by Stone Crushing Units and as to whether these Units should be brought under the Schedule of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, thereby necessitating obtaining of environmental clearance.A Division Bench of...

Supreme Court Stays Centre's Orders Which Allowed Ex Post Facto Environmental Clearance

In a significant development this week, the Supreme Court suspended two union government orders from July 2021 and January 2022 for ex-post facto clearance for mining projects without the prior environmental clearance mandated under the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification. The interim order was passed by a division bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta in a...

Arsenic, Fluoride In Groundwater| NGT Issues Notice To 28 States,UTs, Raps CGWA For “Shirking Responsibility”

Observing that presence of toxic elements like arsenic and fluoride in groundwater, causing serious toxic effects to human body are admitted by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) but no effective steps have been taken, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notice to 28 States, UTs, CGWA and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.The principal bench of NGT comprising...

Depression Due To Air Pollution| Failure To Provide Steps Taken, Vague Reply, NGT Imposes Rs. 25k Cost On MoEFCC

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs.25,000 on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for failure to provide “even a single step taken” for preventing air pollution containing hazardous chemicals.A bench of Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, “Counsel appearing for MoEF&CC when asked as to what ...