Latest news with #ArunKumarTyagi
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Muktsar cracker factory blast: NGT seeks response from Central, Punjab pollution boards, DC
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought replies from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding an explosion in an illegal cracker factory at Singhewala village in Muktsar district, which left five people dead and 29 injured on May 30. The NGT has posting the hearing on August 4. (HT Photo) In an order dated June 5, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, the green body took a suo motu note of a news report published in HT on May 31 regarding the incident at the unauthorised cracker unit. Quoting an HT report, the NGT order stated: 'According to the news item, it is alleged that the factory operator managed to buy a huge volume of explosives and other material used in producing firecrackers without permission, and that even after 10 hours of the explosion, the smell of potash emanated from the debris.' The bench said that the incident attracted provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Rules. The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the CPCB, PPCB, the Chandigarh regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the Muktsar deputy commissioner. 'Let a notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit at least one week before the next date of hearing,' the tribunal said, posting the hearing on August 4.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab illegal cracker unit blast: NGT seeks response from CPCB
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought replies from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others regarding an explosion in an illegal cracker factory at Singhewala village in Punjab's Muktsar district last month that left five people dead and 29 injured. Investigators at the site of the explosion at Singhewala village in Punjab's Muktsar district on May 30. The explosion left five people dead and 29 injured. (HT file photo) The NGT had taken a suo motu note of news reports on the May 30 blast at the unauthorised cracker unit In an order dated June 5, a bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel said, 'According to the news item, it is alleged that the factory operator managed to buy a huge volume of explosives and other material used in producing firecrackers without permission, and that even after 10 hours of the explosion, the smell of potash emanated from the debris.' The bench said that the incident attracted provisions of the Public Liability Insurance Act, the Environment (Protection) Act, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, Explosives Act, Explosive Substances Act and Explosives Rules. The tribunal impleaded as parties or respondents the CPCB, Punjab State Pollution Control Board, the Chandigarh regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and the district magistrate or deputy commissioner concerned. 'Let a notice be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply,' the tribunal said, posting the hearing on August 4.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of TOI Report On Futala Lake, Summons Authorities
1 2 3 Nagpur: The National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) has taken suo motu cognizance of a TOI report highlighting the deteriorating condition of Nagpur's iconic Futala Lake. The report, published on May 25, 2025, titled 'Futala Lake's charm fades amid neglect and poor maintenance', prompted the NGT's principal bench in New Delhi to initiate action after a hearing on June 5. The tribunal order, passed by justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and coram member A Senthil Vel, acknowledged the environmental and public health concerns raised in the article, including trash accumulation along the shoreline, foul odour from rotting offerings, lack of functional toilets, and weak enforcement by civic bodies against pollution and religious dumping. The tribunal has impleaded three key agencies as respondents — Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). They have been sent notices to file their responses on affidavit a week before the tribunal's Western Zone bench at Pune hears the matter on August 6, after obtaining approval from the NGT chairperson. The order observes that the issues highlighted in the article potentially violated key provisions of environmental legislation, including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The bench cited the 2021 Supreme Court ruling in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs Ankita Sinha, which validated NGT's power to take up environmental matters suo motu based on credible media reports.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of environmental degradation of Nagpur's Futala Lake
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the declining condition of Futala Lake in Maharashtra's Nagpur. A bench, headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Futala Lake's charm fades amid neglect and poor maintenance". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted that the lake, once a popular spot for locals, now faces hygiene issues and environmental degradation due to neglect and poor maintenance. The news item also highlighted that the absence of functional public toilets has led visitors to resort to unhygienic alternatives, and the lake's shore is covered with trash like flower garlands and plastic bags, causing a foul smell. "[D]espite efforts by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prevent the immersion of idols and religious offerings, enforcement remains weak, resulting in continued pollution,' noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Western Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of the Pune's Western Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Western Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Pune on 06.08.2025 after obtaining orders from Hon'ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required," the NGT ordered. It added that responses may be filed by the authorities before the Western Zone Bench of the green tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT seeks replies over palm tree felling in state
Patna: The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), the state's disaster management department, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and others in connection with the widespread felling of palm trees in Bihar, which, it is believed, is contributing to a rise in lightning-related deaths. The NGT's principal bench in New Delhi took suo motu cognisance of a news report titled "Are missing palm trees causing more lightning deaths in Bihar", published in TOI on May 29, 2025. "The news item relates to the large-scale felling of toddy-yielding palm trees, which is stated to have contributed to a rise in lightning-related deaths with over 2,000 lives lost since 2016 in Bihar. According to the article, the widespread cutting of palm trees is directly linked to a sharp increase in lightning-related fatalities. It highlights that dozens of towering palm trees are being felled, leading to more frequent lightning strikes that result in deaths. The article notes that after the ban on toddy tapping due to Bihar's prohibition policy, palm trees lost their economic value and have since been widely cut down. This ecological loss appears to have made rural areas more vulnerable to lightning strikes with the state recording over 2,000 lightning-related deaths since 2016," the principal bench, comprising judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, stated in its order on June 5. The bench further observed, "The news item mentions that according to the Bihar Economic Survey and the disaster management department, lightning strikes claimed 2,446 lives between 2016 and April 2025 with rural population being the worst affected. The article states that the number of lightning deaths began to rise following the rampant felling of palm trees. The Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024 states that lightning strikes claimed as many as 2,937 lives in Bihar between 2014 and 2024. " According to the tribunal's order, the most severely affected districts include Aurangabad, Patna, Nalanda, Kaimur, Rohtas, Bhojpur and Buxar. The highest incidence of lightning-related deaths occurs between 12.30pm and 4.30pm, when many people are outdoors for work. The article also mentioned that the south-central region of Bihar is more prone to lightning strikes than other parts of the state. The order added, "In addition, the Bihar Rashtriya Pasi Sena, a platform representing the Pasi community, which has traditionally been involved in toddy tapping, has found that the area under palm tree cultivation in Bihar has decreased by 40%. The article further notes that the planting of palm trees has almost stopped." Citing the seriousness of the issue, the NGT bench noted, "The matter seems to attract the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Hence, we implead the BSPCB, the CPCB, the additional chief secretary of the state's disaster management department and the regional office of the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, as respondents in the matter." The bench directed that, "Replies/responses may be filed by the respondents before the eastern zone bench of this tribunal at Kolkata at least one week before the date of next hearing on Aug 7."
