Plea Filed In NGT, For Protection Of UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Kaas Plateau’

Recently, an environmental activist has filed an application for the restitution and restoration of the environment and ecology of 'Kaas Plateau' in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) (West Zone) under Section 15 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (NGT Act), read with Sections 18 and 20 of the NGT Act.The application raises concerns about illegal construction near the plateau, which...

Environmental Law Weekly Round-Up [26 March-1 April,2023]

Nominal IndexSwetab Kumar v. Ministry of Environment, Forest And Climate Change and Ors. [2023 LiveLaw (SC)245] ( Supreme Court)Centre for Environment Law WWF-I v. Union of India (Supreme Court)Yeshwanth Shenoy v. State of Kerala (Supreme Court)Shramjeevi Cooperative Housing Society Ltd. v. Dinesh Johi and others [2023 LiveLaw (SC) 258] (Supreme Court)People's Charioteer Organisation v....

Centre Introduces Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill,2023

On Wednesday, the central government introduced the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which seeks to amend certain provisions under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.The Bill acknowledges that the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has presented new challenges in terms of ecological, social, and environmental developments. These include mitigating the effects of climate change,...

NGT Orders Compensation For Deaths Of Children In West Bengal's Illegal Mining Case

NGT ordered compensation of 20 lakhs to each of the heirs of three deceased persons, including two 15-year-old children, and 5 lakhs to the injured who were engaged in illegal mining activities on the Balason river bed in Siliguri,West Bengal.Two children, along with a 20-year-old person, were crushed to death while illegally loading sand onto a truck in the Balason river bed in Siliguri...

'NGT Could Not Have Ignored Decree Affirmed By Supreme Court' : SC Allows Housing Society's Appeal

The Supreme Court on March 22 allowed the appeal filed by the Shramjeevi housing society, which had challenged the decision of the NGT to halt construction near Teliya lake in Mandsaur. The NGT had ordered the construction to be stopped on the grounds that the land fell within a submergence area. However, the housing society argued that they had previously received permission for the...

NGT Forms Committee To Provide Remedial Measure To Restore North Bengal’s Wetland Chatra Beel

The Eastern Zone bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has constituted a committee to inspect and provide remedial measures to restore the Chatra Beel, a wetland in North Bengal in the district of Malda, that is allegedly being encroached upon due to expansion of the city.The bench of Justice B. Amit Sthalekar (Judicial Member) and Prof. A. Senthil Vel (Expert Member) passed an...

Declarants Of Exotic Live Species As Per 2020 MoEFCC Advisory Immune From Prosecution Under Wild Life Act & Future Amendments : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on March 27 clarified that individuals who have made a declaration of ownership of 'exotic live species' in accordance with the 2020 advisory issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are immune from prosecution under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 or action under any future laws or amendments.The bench comprising of Justice Krishna Murari...

Environmental Law Weekly Round-Up [19 March-25 March, 2023]

A weekly round up of development in environmental law jurisprudence.Nominal Index1. Tushar Goswami v.Union of India & Ors.2. Gaurav Sharma v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Ors.3. Abhisht Kusum Gupta v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.4. In re: news item in NDTV dated 28.02.2023 titled “2 Dead, 2 Injured in Explosion at Gujarat Pharma Company”5. Harpal Singh Rana & Anr. v. State...

NGT Imposes Rs. 10 Crore Compensation On Kerala For Failing To Protect Ramsar Sites

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a compensation of 10 crore on Kerala for its failure to protect Ashtamudi Wetland and Vembanad-Kol Wetland, which are Ramsar sites in Kollam district of Kerala.The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Justice Sudhir Agarwal (Judicial Member), and Dr Senthil Vel (Expert Member), said, “The State cannot...

De-silting Of Dams Not Exempted From Obtaining Prior Environment Clearance: NGT Imposes ₹50 Crores Penalty On Karnataka Irrigation Department

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) South Zone has imposed a penalty of 50 crore rupees on the Irrigation Department of Karnataka for conducting mining activities in Adyapadi and Shamburu Dams in the Dakshin Kannada District without obtaining environmental clearance, in violation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006.The bench, comprising of Justice Pushpa...

Every Hour Five Trees Are Cut Down in Delhi: High Court Seeks Action Plan From Forest Department

Recently, the Delhi High Court sought an expedited action plan from the Forest Department after it was brought to the court's attention that, for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, five trees are being cut down every hour in Delhi with prior permission from the Tree Officer.The bench of Justice Najmi Waziri said, “Remedying the harm and loss of tree-cover would possibly take another 20 years...

Supreme Court Asks Centre To File Response In Plea To Protect Western Ghats

Recently the Supreme Court bench comprising CJI D.Y Chandrachud, Justice P.S Narasimha, and Justice J.B Pardiwala passed an order directing the Central government to file a counter affidavit within four weeks in the matter concerning the protection of the Western Ghats.The matter will be next posted on July 25, 2023.About the case In 2019, a writ petition was filed by several individuals...