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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
NGT halts petrol pump in Haryana college, orders review of CPCB guidelines
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday stopped the establishment of a petrol pump within the premises of Hindu Girls College and School at Jagadhri in Haryana's Yamuna Nagar district, citing violations of environmental guidelines. The ruling, delivered by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, judicial member; and Dr Afroz Ahmad, expert member, also mandates a review of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms for setting up fuel stations to cover sensitive locations such as colleges. The case began when Harvinder Singh, a resident of Yamuna Nagar, filed an application against the Haryana government, Hindu Girls College, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), and others in 2023. Singh challenged the approval granted by the district administration and IOCL for a petrol pump proposed by Pushpesh Passi on land leased from the college. He argued that the outlet's location, within 5–10 metres of the college and school buildings, violated CPCB guidelines of January 7, 2020, which require a minimum distance of 50 metres from schools, hospitals, and residential areas, or 30 metres with additional safety measures prescribed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The tribunal found that the proposed retail outlet, on a 66 ft x 66 ft plot within the college campus, did not meet CPCB siting criteria. A joint committee inspection on June 28, 2023, showed the outlet was just 11.3 metres from the college auditorium, far short of the required distance. The committee's report, submitted to the Yamuna Nagar district magistrate, confirmed non-compliance, prompting NGT intervention. Key findings and orders The tribunal stressed that CPCB guidelines are meant to safeguard public health and safety, especially in sensitive areas. It rejected the respondents' argument, including IOCL and Passi, that colleges are excluded from the term 'schools' in the guidelines. 'Keeping in mind the background and object of framing of the CPCB Guidelines dated 07.01.2020, the expression 'school' cannot be read within confines of its narrow meaning and has to be given wider interpretation… to include 'college',' the bench observed. It further held that excluding colleges on the ground that students are above 18 'does not appear… to be sound.' The tribunal also criticised the college management for leasing land for commercial use. 'The facts pleaded by respondent no. 3 regarding vacant, non-usable land of the college… raise serious doubts regarding the bonafides, competence, [and] efficiency of the Members of the Managing Committee,' the order said. It directed the Haryana government to investigate possible mismanagement by the Hindu Girls College and School management. Additionally, the NGT directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) and the CPCB to review the 2020 guidelines within six months, stating they should be illustrative rather than exhaustive to account for other sensitive locations. 'The expressions 'schools, hospital (10 beds and above) and residential area designated as per local laws'… purport to be exhaustive whereas [they] ought to be illustrative conferring some discretion,' the bench noted. The ruling sets a precedent for interpreting 'schools' to include colleges in environmental regulations, potentially affecting future fuel station approvals near educational institutions. The tribunal reiterated that development must align with environmental safety, noting that 'public interest and the right to a clean environment… cannot be denied and has to be protected and implemented in the fullest measure by all instrumentalities of the State as well as the project proponents'.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Like giving Louis Vuitton to the starving': NGT slams DPCC for spending green fund on ads
Even as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) collected around Rs 130.53 crore as the Environment Compensation (EC) fund between April 2015 and June 30 this year, the regulatory body has spent only Rs 59.39 crore so far. While there was no expenditure on air pollution monitoring in 2024–25, a total amount of Rs 8.2 crore was spent on 'advertising and printing' during the period. 'How is an advertisement helpful for the environment?' the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked the DPCC Thursday as it analysed the submissions and rapped the regulatory authority over its spending pattern. Drawing an analogy, the bench constituted by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Dr Afroz Ahmad made another sharp remark as it said the expenditure on ads is like 'giving Louis Vuitton vouchers to a starving person' — a reference to cosmetic and misdirected use of funds while the core problem persists. Invoking the principle of inter-generational equity, the bench said the misuse of EC funds undermines long-term ecological justice. According to the data submitted by the DPCC in the green court, it registered a steep rise in expenditure under the category — 'honorarium for oversight committee or technical consultants' (Rs 5.7 crore) in 2024-25, a jump from Rs 0.2 crore in the previous year. Last year, DPCC had spent Rs 15.09 lakh on air pollution monitoring and Rs 3.6 crore on 'advertising and printing'. In a marked exception, while no expenditure was incurred for the rejuvenation of water bodies from 2015 to 2023-24, the year 2024-25 saw a spending of Rs 19.62 crore — the highest in all categories. Other areas where EC funds, collected from violators of environmental laws, are generally used are research and study projects, procurement of instruments for labs, installing recycling units in government schools, and setting up noise monitoring stations, among others. The green court was hearing a plea filed in 2022 on air pollution caused by a hot mix plant in West Delhi's Najafgarh, and had asked the DPCC to provide details of the EC funds. The NGT also sought the details of the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for the utilisation of such funds in a December 2023 order. While DPCC submitted a SOP on June 3 for timely EC recovery and utilisation, the Tribunal, remaining unconvinced, noted a serious gap between policy and implementation. Even as the DPCC counsel cited awareness under Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines as justification on Thursday, the Tribunal appeared dissatisfied and countered that 'the purpose of EC is twofold: to deter potential violators… and to remediate actual environmental damage' — neither of which is achieved through disproportionate spending on publicity. The NGT said the pattern emerging in multiple cases showed the EC is often not realised or, even when collected, remains unutilised for extended periods, causing irreversible environmental damage. The NGT has asked its Registry 'to list all pending cases involving EC fund utilisation' before the bench before the next hearing in August. Meanwhile, the DPCC stated in its submission that it issued the SOP 'to streamline the procedure for imposition or recovery, or realisation of EC'. Counsel for the DPCC and Secretary, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) will have to furnish responses too.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Complete demarcation of Nahargarh sanctuary: NGT
1 2 Jaipur: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state govt to finalise demarcation and digitisation of land in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) amid growing concerns over illegal constructions, encroachments and disputes regarding land rights. The matter pertains to the land of VanKhand Amer-54, which was notified as part of the sanctuary through govt notifications issued in 1961 and 1980. The NGT's Central Zone Bench in Bhopal, comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad, heard the case between Kamal Tiwari and the Union of India & others via video conferencing on May 27. The tribunal was informed of several serious issues, including the absence of clear demarcation, unauthorised constructions and failure to mutate the land in favour of the forest department. "Disputes also arose between individuals claiming rights over the land and authorities seeking to remove illegal structures from the forest area," the order states. The tribunal was apprised of the urgent need to prepare a digital map based on original forest notifications, land records, and khasra-scale mapping. "The process involves assessing the current status of notified forest land, revenue land, and other categories through physical verification and village-wise justification," said a senior forest official. The tribunal also took note of recent directions from Supreme Court in a related matter, wherein all States and Union Territories were instructed to prepare a consolidated record of forest land—including forest-like areas identified by expert committees—within one year. The Supreme Court further directed the Union of India to issue necessary circulars for compliance and digitization of forest land. In compliance with these directions, Rajasthan's principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden convened a high-level meeting. A committee of more than nine members was formed to undertake the demarcation exercise. "A preliminary report was submitted and is currently under verification by wildlife department. The matter will now be heard on Sept 8, 2025," said an official.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tree census ordered after allegations that hundreds were cut down for cricket stadium in Madhya Pradesh
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Bhopal has directed forest authorities in Madhya Pradesh to carry out a state-wide tree census and implement geo-tagging of trees, following a plea alleging that 700 trees were illegally felled in an ecologically sensitive area to make way for a cricket stadium and a road. A bench comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and technical member Afroz Ahmad ordered that the census be conducted city-wise and district-wise across the state. 'There should be a tree census within the state, city-wise and district-wise to be monitored by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest or an official nominated by the PCCF,' the tribunal said. The NGT also directed a joint committee to submit a report on the tree-felling allegations. This committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's integrated office in Bhopal, the Central Pollution Control Board (Bhopal), the Additional Chief Conservator of Forest (Bhopal), and the State Pollution Control Board. The NGT said it would take between 70 and 100 years to regenerate the green cover provided by 700 trees. '…thus the destruction of so many trees adversely affects the environment and lives of several human beings. Accordingly, the compensation of compensatory afforestation should be in ratio to that period and ratio to the oxygen generated by the plant during the lifetime of the trees,' the tribunal said. The order came in response to a plea filed by Nitin Saxena, who alleged that 700 trees were illegally cut down in violation of the state's tree conservation law — Madhya Pradesh Vrikshon Ka Parirakshan (Nagariya Kshetra) Adhiniyam, 2001. The trees were allegedly felled to facilitate construction within the catchment area of the Bhoj Wetland, near the Neelbad-Barkheda Nathu area in Bhopal. Saxena emphasised the ecological significance of the Bhoj Wetland, a designated Ramsar site — a site that is designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The NGT also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officers to ensure that geo-tagging of all trees be made mandatory, so that accurate records of their location, species, and number can be maintained. The geo-tagging data must be published and reported to the Chief Conservator of Forests, the tribunal added.
