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The illegal constructions in Noida and Greater Noida were being done with topsoil, leading to large-scale illegal mining of the topsoil in and around the villages, resulting in deep, catastrophic pits.
Bengaluru is facing a water shortage of 500 million liters per day against the actual requirement of 2,600 MLD. 6,900 out of 14,000 borewells in the city have dried up, and the use of drinking water for certain purposes has been banned.
The National Green Tribunal deemed the personal appearance of authorised officers from Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and Ghaziabad Development Authority necessary for the next hearing.
NGT relied on Supreme Court’s direction restricting diesel vehicles more than 10 years’ old to ply in NCR region.
Effluents were released into the river water and the river was getting polluted due to untreated industrial and domestic waste.
“The Tribunal must tread carefully to avoid the oversight of propriety, the practice of ex-parte orders and the imposition of damages amounting to crores of rupees.”
“The action plan submitted by Punjab was expression of routine exercise of the State Departments, it lacked a definitive time schedule, proper linkages/ manifest system.”
Arsenic has been detected in ground water in parts of 230 Districts and 25 States and fluoride in 469 Districts and 27 States.
“The preparation of a comprehensive plan and remedial action for controlling this problem in 2024, needs to start now, including preventive steps.”
A quick legal roundup to cover important stories from Tribunals, Regulatory Bodies, Commissions for the month of October and November 2023.
The National Green Tribunal issued notice to Central Ground Water Authority; Ministry of Jal Shakti; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and various States’ Department of Water Resources.
Considering the human health aspect, the authorities are expected to take best possible measure to improve the air quality in the city.
The NGT said that the Chief Secretary’s direction to accord top priority to control the stubble burning and ensure that such incidents are immediately reduced to zero, however, did not bring about any fruitful results.
The Air Quality Bulletins showed that there are various cities where the air quality index has dipped to ‘very poor’ or even to ‘severe’ stage.
“The use of firecrackers in cities/towns where air quality is ‘moderate’ or below was restricted to only green crackers only and for duration of not more than two hours and only for celebration of any specified festival or occasion”.
Details of the Sewage Treatment Plants, drains discharging both treated waste water and untreated waste water, steps taken for utilization of the treated waste water for agriculture, etc. lacked in the status report.
NGT had highlighted the serious functional irregularity in efficiency and competence on the part of CECB officials, holding them guilty of offence under Section 26 of NGT Act for failure to comply with NGT order.
The Tribunal noted that the activity of illegal sand mining was within the knowledge of the Regional Officer, HSPCB and still the Unit was permitted to operate without valid Consent to Operate.
The Court observed that the recommendations made by an Expert Committee are not binding on the NGT, they are only by way of assistance to enable the NGT to arrive at a correct decision in the matter.
The matter was further listed for hearing on 31-07-2023.