Page 3 - National Green Tribunal

Uttar Pradesh fells 17,600 trees for Kanwar route; NGT seeks clarification

The interim report of the NGT panel indicated that, as of August 9, 2024, 17,607 trees had been cut across the three districts based on information from the Irrigation Department

Lack of infrastructure in U'khand to manage forest fires: Report to NGT

Uttarakhand suffers from a glaring lack of essential infrastructure required for effective forest fire management, an amicus curiae report in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said on a matter regarding leaf burning in the Badkot forest range along the Rishikesh-Dehradun Road. Earlier in April, the NGT appointed advocate Gaurav Bansal as the amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist with the case. The report, dated October 14 and submitted to the NGT last week, said it was imperative to address the critical deficiencies and violations hindering effective forest fire management in the state. "The state of Uttarakhand suffers from a glaring lack of essential infrastructure required for effective forest fire management. This includes a shortage of firefighting equipment (such as protective goggles, protective gears, weapons etc.), insufficient patrolling vehicles to access remote areas, and a dearth of communication devices such as wireless and satellite phones essential for ...

NGT castigates UP officials for mining permissions in turtle sanctuary

The National Green Tribunal has castigated three district magistrates of Uttar Pradesh and the member secretary of the state's pollution control board for granting permission "in a mechanical manner" for mining works in the state's turtle wildlife sanctuary. Issuance of clearances and grant of permission for such activities in the prohibited areas was not only a flagrant violation of environmental laws but also "non-application of mind and exercise of illegal power" by the authorities concerned, the NGT said. A bench of NGT judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member Afroz Ahmad was hearing two connected matters regarding illegal sand mining in the 30-km sanctuary on the banks of river Ganga spread across the districts of Pyayagraj, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadhoi). Noting the evidence before it, including the reports of two joint committees formed earlier, the tribunal in its order dated October 24 said that mining leases were in the "prohibited area" both ...

NGT issues notice over illegal tree felling in Gujarat's Koteshwar

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Gujarat regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the issue of alleged illegal tree felling in Gujarat's Koteshwar. The green body had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report on the threat to a 77-hectare forest patch in Koteshwar which is situated between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the article, this forest is home to over 700 species of flora and fauna, including some endangered species and this area, considered the last wildlife refuge near the city, is threatened by ongoing deforestation and urban encroachment as plans to transform it into a biodiversity park are set in motion as part of the Sabarmati River Front extension plan." The bench also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members Afroz Ahmad and A Senthil Vel said the report raised "substantial issues" about compliance with

NGT issues notice on blockage of drains, lakes' encroachment in Bengaluru

The NGT has sought a response from the chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and other officials on a Lokayukta report on two lakes of the Karnataka capital that found blocked stormwater drains and encroachments as major issues. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was hearing a matter where it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the Lokayukta's probe that found several issues in Vibhutipura and Doddanekundi lakes in Bengaluru. In a recent order, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "The news item states that in Vibhutipura Lake, officials found the entrance gate mutilated, fencing destroyed, and illegal structures within the premises." "The lake's water level was alarmingly low, even during the rainy season, due to a blocked outflow path. Encroachments and misuse of facilities were also noted. Furthermore, it was found that the Doddanekundi Lake faced similar issues," he said. The bench also comprising judici

NGT issues notice over civic issues faced by Gurugram Ward 16 residents

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Gurugram Municipal Corporation commissioner and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority CEO in a matter regarding unsanitary conditions caused by overflowing sewers and stray cattle in the city's ward 16. The green body was hearing a matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the severe civic issues faced by residents of the ward, which included the localities of Arjun Colony, Idgah Colony, Jyoti Park, Jyoti Park (East), Madanpuri, Nehru Lane, Pratap Nagar, Vijay Park and Manohar Nagar. In an order dated September 30, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "As per the news item, the ward is plagued by broken and damaged sewers that continuously overflow, spilling filth onto the roads. This results in severe water logging even after brief rainfall, making commuting difficult and spreading a foul stench throughout the area." "The presence of stray cattle adds

NGT seeks response from authorities after contaminated water makes 300 ill

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a response from authorities, including the district magistrate of Greater Noida, in a matter regarding the supply of contaminated water to a housing society. The green panel had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a newspaper report, according to which water containing E coli bacteria and bleaching powder was recently supplied to Supertech Ecovillage 2 in Greater Noida West. Consumption of the contaminated water led to over 300 residents, including 170 children, falling ill. In its order dated October 1, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said, "The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment Protection Act." The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, impleaded as parties or respondents the member secretaries of the Central Pollution ...

Env clearance to Adani's Chhattisgarh coal project despite NGT's rejection

The Centre has again approved a coal mining project operated by an Adani Group company in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, just six months after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) revoked its environmental clearance, directing the environment ministry to reexamine the case from the stage of the public hearing. There was no reaction available from the Adani Group till the filing of this report. The Rs 7,465-crore coal mine project, which will affect 14 villages in the Gare Palma area of Tamnar tehsil, belongs to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco), with Gare Palma II Collieries Pvt. Ltd., an Adani Group company, as the mine developer and operator. The environmental clearance has been granted despite studies highlighting serious concerns about the project's impact on the socio-economic and health conditions of villagers, hydrology, and carrying capacity, suggest government records. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the Centre for granting clearance again

NGT seeks Centre's response: Star rating system for vehicles gets push

Star rating systems for vehicles based on fuel efficiency are already prevalent in many countries

Legacy waste: SC stays NGT order directing Punjab govt to pay over Rs 1K cr

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order of the National Green Tribunal, which had imposed over Rs 1,000 crore as environmental compensation on Punjab for failing to manage legacy waste and untreated sewage in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued notice to the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the appeal filed by the state government against the NGT order. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi appeared for the state government. The NGT in its July 25 order had directed Punjab through the chief secretary to deposit Rs. 10,261,908,000 towards environmental compensation with the CPCB within one month. "Repeated orders have been passed from time to time giving opportunity to State of Punjab in the hope and trust that it will take serious, substantial and urgent steps to comply with provisions of Environmental Laws and in particular Section 24 of Water Act, 1974 but we are at pain to observe t

Delhi forest dept asks transport dept for land for compensatory plantation

Acting on an NGT order, the Delhi Forest Department has asked the Transport Department to hand over 50,895 square metres of land to it and also pay more than Rs 40 lakh to carry out compensatory plantation for trees felled at a cluster bus depot in Burari, according to official documents. The action is part of a broader enforcement effort to ensure environmental regulations are met following the felling and transplantation of trees, officials said. The Forest Department's communication, dated August 23, to the Transport Department follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order which directed the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Central) to forfeit the Transport Department's security deposit for non-compliance with the compensatory afforestation requirements. According to the official documents, the Transport Department had been instructed to plant 10 times the number of trees felled or transplanted and to maintain these plantations for seven years. The initial deadline for completion

Congress demands thorough impartial review of Great Nicobar infra project

The Congress on Sunday termed the proposed Great Nicobar infrastructure project an "environmental and humanitarian disaster" and called for its thorough impartial review, including by the parliamentary committees concerned. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that a high-powered committee (HPC), appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and tasked with revisiting the green clearance for the Great Nicobar infrastructure project, has concluded that a proposed transshipment port does not fall in the Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA), where ports are prohibited, but is in ICRZ-IB where these are permitted. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "These are simply games being played at the behest of the Sutradhar, who is pushing for this environmental and humanitarian disaster that the Great Nicobar Mega Infra Project is." "Several questions arise -- How can land categorisation change like this? Surely, some sanctity must be given to the

Religion over environment? UP govt plans to cut 33k trees for Kanwar route

The National Green Tribunal has sought detailed breakdown of the tree felling from the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government

NGT seeks response from CPCB, MCD on Ghazipur landfill fire incident

The National Green Tribunal has sought a response within five weeks from authorities, including the Central Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, on the fire incident at the Ghazipur landfill site last month. The tribunal was hearing the matter after taking suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report regarding the massive fire at the landfill in East Delhi on April 21. A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said the news report raised a "substantial issue" relating to compliance with environmental norms. It said a similar blaze had occurred at the site in 2022 and the tribunal in January of the next year levied an environmental compensation of Rs 900 crore on the Delhi government, besides issuing directions for taking remedial measures. The bench had last year observed that the Delhi government and its authorities did not follow even minimum standards to prevent fires. In an order passed on April 29, the tribu

NGT asks Punjab to explain how it will handle 19 mn tonnes of paddy stubble

Green Tribunal seeks information from the state on stubble management in 2023 and 2024

128 MLD domestic, industrial wastewater flowing into Ganga in Varanasi: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has observed that around 128 MLD wastewater is discharged into the Ganga in Varanasi. The green panel was hearing a matter regarding the discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater into the Ganga in Varanasi, thus hurting religious sentiments. A bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal noted a report by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, according to which around 28 million litres per day (MLD) of untreated sewage is flowing into the Ganga. "In the report, it also has been disclosed that within the Varanasi Municipal Corporation and the expanded area, 522 MLD sewage is generated and there are seven Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), the designed capacity of which comes to a total of about 422 MLD," the bench, also comprising Expert Members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, said. "Hence, even if we presume that the STPs are functioning to their designed capacity, there is a gap of .

NGT asks UP to disclose demarcation of Ganga's floodplain zones in Varanasi

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a report disclosing the steps taken for demarcation of floodplain zones of the Varuna and the Assi, the Ganga's tributaries in Varanasi district. The green panel was hearing a plea claiming that the civic body in the district did not demarcate the rivers' floodplain zones, resulting in continuous encroachment. The plea also alleged illegal discharge of sewage in the rivers. A bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted a report by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, according to which 15 nullahs (drains) were discharging partially-untreated sewage in the Varuna, adversely impacting its water quality. The bench, also comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, noted an Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board report that said inspection of the 15 drains found three to be tapped, 10 partially tapped and two untapped. I

No ammonia emission in Ennore plant area in Dec: Coromandel International

An expert who conducted the audit stated that the chances of line pressurisation beyond the design condition are not a credible scenario

NGT seeks response from Centre, Delhi govt on 2023 Yamuna floods

Delhi battled one of its worst flood-like situations in several pockets last year because of heavy rain, with more than 25,000 people being evacuated from the inundated areas

Delhi Forest dept fails to submit report on CM house, NGT slaps Rs 15K fine

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on the Delhi forest department for the non-submission of a proper report by a panel formed earlier to find the factual position regarding the alleged violations of green norms at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. The NGT also directed the Delhi government and its public works department (PWD) to pay a cost of Rs 10,000 each for not submitting their reports according to the tribunal's earlier directions. The NGT was hearing a petition that alleged the raising of permanent and semi-permanent constructions and the felling of more than 20 trees for developing structures at 6, Flag Staff Road (the chief minister's residence) and 45-47, Rajpur Road (properties adjoining it). In May last year, the tribunal formed a joint committee for ascertaining the factual position. The committee comprised the chief secretary and principal secretary (environment and forest) of Delhi, a nominee of the Delhi Urban Art Commission .