NGT imposes cost of Rs 25,000 on environment ministry, slams CPCB for diverting funds
New Delhi, Dec 19: The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for filing a "vague and irrelevant reply" on a matter regarding the psychological aspect of air pollution.
The green panel also slammed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for diverting the environmental compensation deposited with it for "unauthorised purposes", saying it was "a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity".
Earlier, the tribunal had issued a notice to the ministry, CPCB and three others, saying, "Adequate measures are required for control of such air polluting components and their adverse effect on various organs of the human body, especially those which are affecting the brain and emotional, psychological aspect."
Noting that replies were filed only by the CPCB and the ministry, a bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel said the ministry's counsel had admitted that its reply was "not clear" regarding the effective steps taken by it.
The bench said despite repeated queries, the advocate for the ministry could not mention even a single step taken for effective control of air pollution.
"For filing such a vague and irrelevant reply, we impose a cost of Rs 25,000 upon Respondent No 1 (ministry) and direct it to file a supplementary reply giving details of all steps taken for effective monitoring and control of air pollution within one month," the bench said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the CPCB's reply, the tribunal said despite admitting the presence of "several metals" in the air causing pollution and notifying the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the board did not take "any effective steps" for preventing and controlling air pollution.
"From the reply, we also find that the amount of environmental compensation deposited with CPCB is being diverted for unauthorised purposes," it said.
The tribunal noted the reply, which stated that the CPCB was funding the urban local bodies of the National Capital Region (NCR) for the construction or repair of roads and for mechanical road sweepers under Environment Protection Charge funds.
Similar funds were made available to the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation and other local bodies without assigning specific reasons for it, it said.
"We find it appropriate to require the CPCB to give complete details of the entire amount of environmental compensation lying deposited with it and shall also give manner in which any amount out of above fund has been spent or utilised till November 30, 2023," the tribunal said.
Underscoring that road construction or repair was the statutory responsibility of local bodies, the green body slammed the board, saying diverting funds for unauthorised activities is "a gross misuse and serious financial irregularity."
"We intend to issue direction for recovery of the same from the officer(s) concerned of the CPCB who has/have sanctioned or diverted said funds for unauthorised purposes," the tribunal said.
Allowing a month's time for the CPCB to file a reply, the panel asked the board to "ensure that the amount deposited under environmental compensation is neither diverted nor there is any financial irregularity as it amounts to misappropriation of funds".
"In the garb of protection of environment, remediation and rejuvenation, the activities which are not directly or indirectly connected with the same but statutory duties of some other statutory bodies should not be undertaken by CPCB," the tribunal said.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
