[Industrial Discharge] When Remedy Against Order Passed Under Water Act Available Before NGT, HC Can't Interfere: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has made it clear that when remedy against an order passed by Pollution Control Board under Section 33A of the Water Act, 1974, against an industry discharging effluents, lies before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the High Court cannot interfere.The impugned order against a Cold Storage was passed under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control...

Supreme Court Sets Deadline For NCR States To Fill PCB Vacancies, Asks CAQM About Steps To Address Delhi Air Pollution In Upcoming Winter

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 27) directed that all vacancies in the State Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of National Capital Region (NCR) states must be filled by April 30, 2025.“We make it clear that all States have to endeavour to fill in the important posts urgently. Under no circumstances, we are going to grant them time for filling in all the vacancies beyond 30th April, 2025....

'Very Unfortunate Situation': NGT Raps Authorities For Not Knowing Who Is Responsible For Regulating Ground Water Extraction In Delhi

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rapped authorities including Delhi Government for not knowing who is responsible for regulating ground water extraction in Delhi.A bench of Chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, "It is very unfortunate situation. The matter is pending since long and even after lapse of so many years,...

Dangerous Red Water Coming From Hand-Pumps In MP's Indore, NGT Seeks Response Of State Pollution Board, Ground Water Authority

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought response from Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) and other authorities on report alleging dangerous polluted red colour water coming out from hand-pumps and borewells of Industrial area in Indore.Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr. A. Senthil Vel said, "The news item...

State Organs, Particularly Environmental Bodies Must Diligently Ensure Timely Compliance With NGT Directions: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court recently emphasised that every State organ, especially the ones associated with environment protection such as Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) must diligently ensure timely compliance with the directions of the National Green Tribunal.“we hasten to make it abundantly clear that every State organ and, in particular, the wings of the Government associated...

NGT Takes Suo Moto Cognizance Of Alleged Construction Of Luxury Hotels Around Kaziranga National Park Threatening Wildlife

The principal bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken Suo Moto cognizance of upcoming tourism infrastructure projects in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam which could allegedly threaten the wildlife and impact environment.The development came after the Tribunal took note of a news item titled "Proposed luxury hotels in and around Kaziranga threaten...

NGT Directs Chhattisgarh PCB To Impose Penalty On Violators For Ilegal Sand Mining

The central bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Chhattisgarh State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to realise the environmental compensation from the violators conducting illegal mining.A bench of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Dr. A. Senthil Vel directed that, "that the recommendations submitted by the Joint Committee must be strictly complied with and further direct that...

No Justification For Not Using CAMPA Funds : Supreme Court Seeks Details From States/UTs On Amounts Spent For Afforestation

The Supreme Court (on August 07) directed the State Governments/Union Territories to file an affidavit, inter-alia, to chart out the reasons why the CAMPA(Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority) Funds, created to use it for compensatory afforestation and allied activities, have not been utilised. “We find no justification in the State...

Public Authorities Should Take Best Efforts To Reduce Trees Required To Be Cut For Public Projects : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has directed that every public authority seeking permission to cut trees for public projects must make best efforts to reduce the number of trees which are required to be cut by re-examining the alignment of the public project.The Court passed this direction in view of the spirit of Article 51A(Fundamental Duties) of the Constitution of India and the right of citizens to...

Supreme Court Directs NGT To Monitor Silicosis-Prone Industries And Orders NHRC To Oversee Compensation Process For Affected Workers

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 6) directed the National Green Tribunal to monitor and ensure compliance with minimal standards in industries prone to silicosis disease and to take necessary steps to prevent the spread of the disease.“we now direct the NGT to oversee the impact of silicosis prone industries and factories across India and ensure that the CPCB and the respective SPCBs...

Punjab & Haryana High Court Seeks To Know If HC Campus Overlaps Sukhna Catchment Area Where Construction Is Prohibited

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed a Technical Experts Committee to submit whether the High Court campus overlaps the Sukhna catchment area or not.The Sukhna catchment area is the surrounding demarcated region of Sukhna Lake, which is a protected site according to environmental norms. In 2020, the High Court directed the demolition of all buildings constructed in the catchment area...

NGT Seeks Response From All States, UT In Suo Moto Cognizance Taken On Non-Complaince Of Forest Conservation Act

The National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s principal bench has taken suo moto cognizance on alleged non compliance of provisions of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 by all the States and UT.The development took place after the principal bench, took note of a newspaper article which highlighted, "'missing' Indian forests due to delay in filing of reports by...